news, local-news, bail refused, wollongong, mcdonalds, marcello riveiro

A Wollongong man accused of trying to buy McDonalds with a fake $50 note has been refused bail in court. Police allege Marcello Riveiro presented the counterfeit note to the Corrimal Street restaurant on the night of April 5 as payment for three BLT McMuffins, totalling $6. However the staff member serving Riveiro immediately noticed something was amiss with the cash, noting it had a different texture to that of normal money. The restaurant's manager was also suspicious of the legitimacy of the note and confronted Riveiro about it, prompting him to ask for it to be returned. The manager refused to give it back, instead contacting police. Riveiro immediately left the store and was last seen walking north along Corrimal Street. Police seized the note and ran it under ultra violet light, which confirmed it was a fake. Investigating officers arrested Riveiro the following month. In an interview he denied knowing the money was counterfeit or how it had come to be in his possession. The 36-year-old was charged with one count of knowingly use counterfeit money and ordered to front court on June 10, however failed to show. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was apprehended on Tuesday while walking with friends on Kembla Street. Police opposed Riveiro's bail application in Port Kembla Local Court, noting he had multiple convictions for failing to appear in court when required. Magistrate Geraldine Beattie refused to release Riveiro owing to his lengthy criminal history and his poor track record for obeying court orders. "It seems the only way to make you turn up to court is to keep you in custody," she said. The case was adjourned to later this month for sentencing or an annulment application.

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