Ex-Bega Cheese boss and convicted child sex offender Maurice Van Ryn is behind bars after a decision NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard says is "a win for the community".
The NSW businessman had his bail revoked on Wednesday after controversially being granted bail after pleading guilty to multiple sexual and indecent assaults on children.
But at a hearing at a Sydney court on Wednesday, Judge Rodney Madgwick said there was a risk the 59-year-old might flee the country, while children on school holidays could be put in danger.
"It's clearly a win for the community," Mr Hazzard said.
Judge Madgwick said the wealthy businessman might abscond as he has a property in Thailand, which has no extradition treaty with Australia.
Van Ryn was granted conditional bail in September and Mr Hazzard last month called for the decision to be reviewed after NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance raised the issue with him.
"From time to time the community's view might be a little different from a judge's decision," Mr Hazzard said.
Van Ryn's lawyers had previously suggested he wear an electronic tag on bail but the hearing was told there were logistical problems with this.
Van Ryn - whose family are standing by him - also had the financial backing of his wife and mother who were willing to put up $700,000 in sureties, but Judge Madgwick still denied him bail.
"I think there is an unacceptable risk of flight, of endangering individuals or the community ... in short, conditions have not been able to be formulated which to me would sufficiently reduce the risk, and in the circumstances I propose to refuse the prisoner bail," he said.
Van Ryn is undergoing treatment to reduce his testosterone levels in a process also known as chemical castration. But Judge Madgwick said there was no guarantee he would continue to keep taking the medication.
The Tathra businessman abused children aged from eight to 16 between 2004 and 2014 around the Bega area in southern NSW, with Judge Madgwick describing his behaviour as "predatory".
He has pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, five of indecency and one assault with indecency along with the most serious charge of persistent sexual abuse of a child, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Van Ryn is due to be sentenced on February 2.
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