A one-time jail escapee facing almost 600 fraud charges will remain behind bars after a judge said "there is no question of this man being granted bail".
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Ryan O'Hara, also known as Christian Nassar, is charged over a car fraud syndicate but is not expected to face a lengthy trial until at least towards the end of 2021.
The 37-year-old unsuccessfully applied for bail in the NSW Supreme Court in June and on Wednesday had a second bid dismissed by Justice Richard Button.
"The allegation is that the applicant has committed a massive fraud over an extended period of time," the judge said.
The fraud was said not to be particularly sophisticated, involving obtaining identification materials dishonestly, but was "highly remunerative".
"I believe there is an extremely strong case against Mr O'Hara," Justice Button said.
Describing O'Hara as a "recidivist offender", he said his record went back decades, included dishonesty offences and giving false names, and escaping from custody twice.
"The crown case is that an enormous sum was gambled through Star City Casino," he said.
But he said it was not entirely clear whether that information was placed before the court to suggest money laundering or O'Hara being burdened with a gambling problem or both.
If released, the judge said he believed O'Hara would fail to appear at his next court hearings.
"There is no question of this man being granted bail. It must be refused."
Australian Associated Press
