The high-stakes dispute also involves a notorious silent partner - former professional poker player and convicted conman Bill Jordanou, who was sentenced to a 12-year prison sentence last year over his role in a $76 million fraud. Mr Bochrinis bought the land with a downpayment of just $100,000 from long-term owner John Portelli. His company Champion Investment Group placed two caveats on the title in 2017 after agreeing to settle the multimillion-dollar deal in several instalments over almost five years. The fate of the prime land, near Tarneit, has remained in limbo for almost two years but its value has soared since new A-League franchise Western United announced plans to build its stadium nearby. Several sources familiar with the deal said Mr Bochrinis had worked closely with Jordanou during negotiations on the property. The pair had agreed the property would be onsold or "flipped", with Jordanou's share of the proceeds to be paid to a relative.

At the time of the deal, Jordanou was on bail but would eventually plead guilty in June 2018 to using fraudulent loan documents in the name of clients to obtain funding for property developments. However, their plan fell over when Mr Bochrinis failed to make the first payment of $7.2 million by June 2019 and was served with a notice of rescission, according to a sworn affidavit by Mr Portelli filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria. By then, Mr Portelli had already done a "side deal" to sell the land to rival developers Mark Casey and Mario Salvo, who also agreed to pay $73 million on the same terms. Mr Casey and Mr Salvo formed a company called 1228 Leakes Road Land Pty Limited and paid a $7.3 million deposit to a trust account on May 17, which can be accessed by Mr Portelli only once the caveats are removed by Mr Bochrinis. But Mr Bochrinis claims in an affidavit that his company had not been provided with the contract and vendor's statement on May 17. He said he would have made "immediate arrangements to organise payment of the deposit and to execute those documents".

Former professional poker player Bill Jordanou leaves court in 2014. Credit:Joe Armao He claims in an affidavit that he could have stumped up the $7.2 million within 14 days after entering into an agreement with another company called Pramana Capital Pty Ltd owned by lawyer James Podaridis. Mr Bochrinis' company refuses to remove the two caveats on the property, leaving the future of the site at an impasse. The dispute has been further complicated by Mr Bochrinis' arrest on serious criminal charges. Court records show Mr Bochrinis and a former member of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang were both charged with aggravated burglary, extortion, and intentionally causing serious injury. Mr Bochrinis is also charged with committing an offence while already on bail.

The fire-bombing of his Fulham Road property last year is unrelated to the legal dispute over the Mount Cottrell land, but has been linked to members of the Comanchero bikie gang. His Mercedes, worth more than $150,000, was destroyed by a petrol bomb, while three bricks were also hurled through the front window of his property on February 11. Mr Bochrinis has also run afoul of Horty Mokbel – brother of jailed drug kingpin Tony Mokbel – after a luxury car he provided a finance guarantee over for Mokbel was repossessed, embarrassing the noted underworld figure. Russell Kennedy lawyer Leonard Warren declined to answer questions on behalf of Mr Bochrinis. "We have acted for Champion Investment Group Pty Ltd in Supreme Court proceedings. We have never acted for Mr Bochrinis," Mr Warren said.