Ex-Sister Bella Owner Fined $40,000 Over Low Hygiene Standards

The man behind Laneway Festival, St Jeromes - The Hotel and a number of Melbourne bars has copped a $40,000 fine over significant hygiene problems uncovered at his former CBD venue Sister Bella.

According to The Age, Jerome Borazio fronted the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday, where his company pled guilty to ten charges under the Food Standards Act, relating to an inspection in April 2014 that uncovered rodent droppings throughout the kitchen and dead mice on the floor.

Sister Bella was closed for three weeks in the aftermath of the inspections, which also found holes in the walls and floor, greasy walls and equipment, and unsealed bags of food. Borazio would eventually sell the venue in November 2015.

"Looking at these photographs it's incredible that anyone could unlock the door and turn a blind eye," said magistrate Peter Reardon.

According to defence council John Larkins, Borazio had relied on a management team to oversee operations at Sister Bella, but that "his faith was clearly misplaced." He conceded that responsibility for the "lamentable situation" ultimately lay with the then owner, stating that "the buck stops with him." In addition to the fine, Borazio was ordered to pay a further $10,000 in court costs.

Via The Age. Image: St Jeromes - The Hotel.