A far north Queensland court will hear a challenge to an order that suppresses the identity of a high-profile man involved in an extortion case.
The high-profile man is not facing any charges, but his name has been mentioned in the case of another man, accused of extorting his former partner in an act of domestic violence.
The man charged with extortion allegedly threatened to reveal what he claimed was an affair with the high-profile Queenslander, according to local media reports.
Police allege the accused man threatened to contact the married man, his wife, or place of employment, according to a report by the ABC.
The non-publication order was made by an acting Cairns magistrate, who told the court she had taken advice from the chief magistrate.
The acting magistrate said given the allegations, removing the suppression order would mean the accused man had achieved his purpose.
But the accused man’s defence barrister, Brydie Bilic, has argued against the high-profile man being included in the suppression order, the ABC reported.
Bilic told the court that revealing the high-profile Queenslander’s name would not lead to the identification of the accused or the complainant.
The hearing regarding the suppression order is scheduled for Monday in the Cairns Magistrates Court.
Media outlets, including this masthead, would ask the court to lift the order.
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