Dan Andrews goes on leave after being ordered to front court for 'concealing treason and fraud' - as premier hopes the case just goes away

  • Daniel Andrews is accused of 'concealing an overt act of treason' 
  • The matter has been listed with the Myrtleford Magistrates Court on Friday
  • Mr Andrews is charged with, but not limited to, concealing treason and fraud
  • The hearing will take place over video link due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns 
  • Mr Andrews has refused to comment on the pending court hearing  
  • He is currently on leave after spending a hard year imposing Covid lockdowns  

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has quietly ducked out of Melbourne after being summonsed to appear at court on charges of 'concealing treason'. 

The charge was successfully filed with the Myrtleford Magistrates' Court and Mr Andrews - or at least his legal representative - is listed to face the court on Friday at 9.30am.

The revelations of the court hearing are likely to have at the very least annoyed the holidaying premier, whose spin doctors were contacted for comment by various media organisations on Tuesday.  

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been charged by a private citizen with concealing treason

Protesters were told of the charges during a massive protest in Melbourne on November 27 (pictured)

Protesters were told of the charges during a massive protest in Melbourne on November 27 (pictured)

Premier Daniel Andrews has been the target of protests over lockdown laws, vaccinations and his pandemic bill 

Insiders told Daily Mail Australia Mr Andrews had simply fobbed off the pesky litigation, which comes amid several more pressing legal matters for the Andrews Government to worry about. 

'I think the more interesting cases will be Ken Phillips and WorkSafe/HQ proceedings and then the SlugGate (ICook foods) court proceedings against (Professor Brett) Sutton and the health department,' a source said. 

The matters refer to WorkSafe's investigation into Mr Andrews' disastrous hotel quarantine facilities, which contributed to the deaths of more than 800 Victorians,  and the health department's closure of a catering company after a slug was planted by dodgy council staff. 

It remains unclear where Mr Andrews has gone for his end-of-year break. 

The last time the Victorian Premier got away he ended up with a broken back, which put him off work for months. 

On Friday, a legal representative acting on his behalf is expected to tune into the court hearing via videolink due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns within Victoria's justice system. 

Sources have told Daily Mail Australia the private prosecution had been rejected from several Victorian courts before finally being put into the criminal justice stream in Myrtleford -  280 km northeast of Melbourne. 

The listing of the charges has been celebrated by anti-vaxxers and lockdown protesters, with many taking to social media to wallow in anticipation of the words 'treason' and 'Daniel Andrews' being used together inside an actual courtroom. 

The Myrtleford Magistrates' Court accepted a private prosecution against Premier Daniel Andrews

The Myrtleford Magistrates' Court accepted a private prosecution against Premier Daniel Andrews

Addressing 'freedom' protesters last month, Mr Rech claimed to have been successful in having the matter brought before the court. 

Mr Rech, who refers to himself as a 'Commonwealth Public Official' is known to have tried similar proceedings against other members of parliament across the country, reportedly arresting 'those sitting on the bench without any Crown authority'. 

'He was charged with, but not limited to, misprision of treason and fraud. And as a result of those charges being filed and served, they were served at his electoral office,' Mr Rach told protesters. 

'The police have been given notice … The courts have been told to suppress the listing but we put it out there, we’ve been to the court registrars.'

Mr Rech told the mob the Victorian premier faced the 'death penalty' if convicted of treason.  

'Now that means any politician on indictable criminal offences which is a life penalty but under martial law it’s a death sentence – it has to go to a grand jury,' he said. 

Under the law in Victoria, ordinary citizens can pay $85.70 and file a criminal charge in court. 

While many private prosecutions are described by legal professionals as 'wacky', they have a long history in Victoria.  

Anti-lockdown campaigner Jim Rech addressed the crowd on November 27

Anti-lockdown campaigner Jim Rech addressed the crowd on November 27 

Protesters against Daniel Andrews have successfully had charges accepted by a Victorian court

Protesters against Daniel Andrews have successfully had charges accepted by a Victorian court 

Thousands of Victorians have protested against Premier Daniel Andrews over the past two years

Thousands of Victorians have protested against Premier Daniel Andrews over the past two years 

The case against Mr Andrews faces significant challenges, with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions likely to take control of the matter before it gets off the ground. 

Under the law, the CDPP has the power to overtake and discontinue private prosecutions should it find it has no reasonable prospect of a conviction being secured on the available evidence or was 'not in the public interest'. 

In July, a private prosecution against the Chief Magistrate of Victoria Lisa Hannan was dealt with in Victoria under similar laws. 

Despite the obvious hurdles, the application has already caused significant inconvenience across sections of the State Government, which is expected to provide a lawyer to appear on Mr Andrews' behalf on Friday. 

A staffer for the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions will also be on hand, although the matter is out of its hands due to acts of treason falling under the Commonwealth's umbrella. 

Mr Andrews' office and the CDPP both failed to respond to Daily Mail Australia's questions about the upcoming hearing. 

Jim Rech told protesters outside Parliament House in Melbourne on November 27 he had filed charges

Jim Rech told protesters outside Parliament House in Melbourne on November 27 he had filed charges

It remains unclear if Daniel Andrews will be forced to face the private prosecution, brought on by protesters

It remains unclear if Daniel Andrews will be forced to face the private prosecution, brought on by protesters 

Premier Daniel Andrews has reportedly been slapped with a summons to appear at court on Friday

Premier Daniel Andrews has reportedly been slapped with a summons to appear at court on Friday 

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