Melb Nightclub Owner Suing State Govt After Police Said Venue Was A "Honeypot" For Drug Deals

The owner of a popular Melbourne nightclub is suing the Victorian State government over comments made by a senior police member in 2014.

According to The Age, Inflation Nighclub owner Martha Tsamis' case has reached the Supreme Court five years on from when Superintendent Brett Guerin allegedly made comments to the Herald Sun and 3AW radio that the venue was a "honeypot" for drug dealers. 

The statement came at a time when police were pushing for the nightclub to close at 3am instead of 8am, following claims that drug use and overdoses, as well as underage drinking, were taking place at the venue. 

It's also alleged that Guerin accused Tsamis of approaching witnesses who had shared statements with the police in relation to the push for the earlier closing time, where he described her behaviour as "improper, inappropriate and unlawful".  

Tsamis' lawyer has said the comments were "deeply harmful to her character and reputation in the community" and that throughout her 30-year career working in nightclubs Tsamis had always worked closely with police. 

The trial is expected to continue over the coming weeks.

Inflation made national news in July 2017, when two people were shot by police at the venue. It is believed that Inflation Nightclub was hosting a costume party on 8 July and that the man shot by police, Dale Ewins, was dressed as The Joker from the film Suicide Squad and carrying a prop gun.