A Melbourne lawyer charged with money laundering in connection with a $2.4 million road gang robbery more than 20 years ago is concerned those involved might come after him, a court has heard.
Defence barrister Peter Billings said lawyer John Anile, 55, is worried people involved in the 1994 robbery could target him because the case is still under investigation.
"The concern for safety is real and genuine," he told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Mr Billings said "up until now" police had also been concerned about Anile's welfare and didn't want certain people finding out about his charges.
No one has been charged for the "road gang" heist, where four people posing as road workers stopped an Armaguard van on the Monash Freeway at Richmond in June 1994 before escaping in two getaway cars with $2.4 million.
Mr Billings unsuccessfully argued that a suppression order on identifying Anile, who is charged with money laundering between August 1994 and July 1995, should continue.
He said publication of Anile's name in the media could prompt those involved "to act".
A man was sitting in the back of the court and Mr Billings said he was making Anile extremely uncomfortable, also claiming the man could be a "conduit" of information to others.
The court heard the man was present in the last mention of the matter and was an associate of Anile's from many years ago.
Detectives in March charged a lawyer with allegedly attempting to launder stolen cash but didn't identify him.
Police applied for a suppression order last month to avoid news of Anile's charges getting out but that was no longer necessary because at least one interested party already knew and was in court, prosecutor David Bosso said.
Magistrate Peter Reardon found there was no evidence Anile had been threatened and said it appeared people with an interest in the case already knew Anile's name.
As well as money laundering, Anile is charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception between August 1994 and July 1995, by avoiding stamp duty and associated fees and underquoting the sale or purchase of land.
Anile, who is on bail, will face a contested committal hearing in February.
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