Alleged Melbourne anti-lockdown protest organiser Tony Pecora’s bold court demand

An alleged anti-lockdown protest organiser can’t afford a lawyer, will be kicked out of his rental property and wants to attend court virtually from South America, a court has heard.

Tony Pecora is charged with two counts of inciting others to breach public health restrictions by organising anti-lockdown protests.

Police allege the 43-year-old used the Facebook account Arkwell Tripelligo to organise the rallies in September last year.

He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr Pecora said he intended to attend future hearings over videolink from Colombia as he had permission from the federal government to leave the country.

His Colombian wife had a death in the family.

But magistrate Michael Smith said that could be breaching his bail conditions, which was “not a trivial charge”.

“You’re not suggesting that you somehow arrange to have this heard from an overseas destination … it’s not going to happen,” he said.

Mr Pecora attended on Tuesday with lawyer Ben Watson.

But the court heard he was not eligible for Legal Aid and was “running out of money very quickly”.

He was asked if his lawyer would continue to act for him and said: “Ben, what do you want to do there? I can’t guarantee that I can pay you.”

“Due to this Covid situation my business got wiped out,” Mr Pecora said.

“I have been told by my landlord to vacate the premises.”

His lawyer advised him to discuss charges with police before the next court hearing to see if the matter could be resolved.

Mr Pecora separately filed a Supreme Court action last year against the Victorian government challenging lockdown rules along with two other anti-lockdown figures, claiming in court they had raised $100,000.

He later dropped out of the suit, which ultimately failed.

He will next appear in the Magistrates Court on December 8, where the court heard police would also apply to revoke his bail.