During a recent drug search conducted by police, a former brothel owner’s home revealed an unexpected assortment of items, including authentic Australian Federal Police (AFP) and New South Wales (NSW) Police uniforms.
Peter Lazaris, once the proprietor of the renowned Surry Hills establishment ‘A Touch of Class’, found himself facing Downing Centre Local Court after authorities searched his residence in November 2022 as part of a drug-related investigation.
The discovery of official police uniforms in Lazaris’s bedroom raised eyebrows, with the defendant explaining to the court that he had “aspirations of curating a museum in the future”.
However, possessing genuine police uniforms without proper authorisation is illegal and carries a potential maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.
Alongside the authentic uniforms, police also seized several high-quality imitation items during the search.
As footage of the search played in court, officers could be seen sifting through Lazaris’s belongings, uncovering an array of police attire and paraphernalia.
Among the seized items were AFP and NSW Police badges, hats, shirts, and jackets, alongside items representing law enforcement agencies from other regions such as the NYPD and California police, news.com.au reported.
Lazaris’s lawyer, Marina Kiriakos, offered insight into her client’s intentions, revealing that “he had engaged in discussions with an eBay seller about his interest in establishing a museum and was an avid collector of such memorabilia”.
Additionally, it was disclosed that Lazaris had utilised some of the items while working as an extra on the Australian sitcom ‘Queen of Oz’.
However, the prosecution highlighted that Lazaris lacked the necessary license to possess the uniforms, further complicating the legal proceedings.
Despite the attention garnered by his unusual collection, Lazaris opted not to make a statement outside the courtroom.
This isn’t Lazaris’s first brush with infamy.
As the owner of ‘A Touch of Class’ during the early 2000s, he presided over the brothel until its closure in 2008, attributing the shutdown to increased competition from more affordable establishments. The brothel, a fixture of Sydney’s landscape since its establishment in 1972, gained notoriety for its upscale clientele and even featured in the 2006 Australian film ‘Candy’, starring Heath Ledger.
Lazaris now faces charges related to the possession and use of police uniforms, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The court proceedings are ongoing, with further evidence expected to be presented in September.
Additionally, Lazaris faces sentencing for drug-related charges, including two counts of drug supply and one of drug possession, scheduled for September 24.
