Oct 26, 2021

Advertisement The operators of Love Machine nightclub in Prahran will face court over a range of alleged liquor licensing breaches and failure to comply with public health orders following three separate investigations by police. Sterling Nightclubs Pty Ltd, which owns Love Machine and another venue in South Yarra, was due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday over a charge of breaching a condition of its license. Credit:Instagram While the matter was adjourned until next year, the company is due to appear before the courts again in December on a raft of other charges, including failing to comply with directions from the chief health officer, failing to provide documents for inspection, and failing to appear before an authorised person to answer questions. A Victoria Police spokesman confirmed the company was also charged with allowing an intoxicated patron to enter its venue. Director Dhir Kakar, who is not charged personally, did not respond to requests for comment on behalf of Sterling Nightclubs, which could face changes to, or cancellation of its late-night liquor licence. Loading Love Machine, where two people died and four others were wounded in a drive-by shooting in 2019, was fined $9913 in June 2020 over its failure to comply with COVID-19 restrictions imposed by Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. The club was hit with a second fine of $991 for breaching its liquor licence conditions on the night. In April 2019, more than six bullets were fired from a 32-calibre assault rifle at the front of the Prahran club. Advertisement Security guard Aaron Khalid Osmani, 37, died at the scene and Richard Arow, 28, died from his injuries days later. Three others were struck by bullets and another was injured trying to avoid the attack. Jacob Elliott, 18, and 22-year-old Allan Fares were both charged with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder over the shooting. A third man, Moussa Hamka was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. Love Machine, which was also the target of separate extortion rackets by the Comanchero and Finks motorcycle gangs, had reopened in November 2018 after a multimillion-dollar renovation.