Perth Restaurant Owner Hit with $40,000 Fine After Girls Served Citronella Oil
A Perth restaurant owner has been fined $40,000 after two young girls were served citronella oil instead of cranberry juice at his establishment, leading to their hospitalisation. Michele Angiuli, 35, was found guilty of serving unsafe food following an incident at his restaurant, Miky’s at Crawley, on June 28, 2024.
Court Details Serious Safety Failures
Magistrate Donna Webb found Angiuli guilty after a trial, stating he had failed to run the restaurant properly, maintained a "disorganised bar", and left chemical bottles lying around on multiple occasions. She emphasised the significant potential consequences of the girls accidentally consuming citronella, noting, "I can't imagine how terrifying it would have been for the parents."
The trial heard that sisters Olivia Lemin, 12, and Hannah, 11, spat out the drink immediately, telling their parents it was poison. Their father, Marcus Lemin, confronted bartender Alessio Celoria, who initially dismissed it as old juice. Lemin testified, "I said some choice language like 'you f...ing poisoned my children' and that we were going to hospital."
Hospitalisation and Aftermath
The girls complained of burning mouths and stomachs, while their mother, Michelle Lemin, experienced similar symptoms and a headache after sipping the juice. The family was taken to Perth Children’s Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, all discharged later that evening. Outside court, Michelle Lemin described it as a "horrific" experience, hoping the hospitality industry learns from this to prevent future incidents.
Defence Arguments and Judicial Findings
Angiuli’s defence lawyer, Dan Johnson, argued that blame should fall on the bartender, claiming Angiuli exercised due diligence. He explained that a friend had placed the citronella bottle on the bar counter after using it to fill candles for outdoor seating. However, Magistrate Webb noted Angiuli had left chemical bottles outside repeatedly and failed to appoint a food safety officer despite two prior warnings from authorities.
Webb stated, "Your restaurant was not appropriately managed or compliant in a number of areas," holding Angiuli vicariously liable for the bartender’s conduct. The bad publicity led Angiuli to sell his business, abandoning his lifelong dream of restaurant ownership. He has since reskilled into financial trading and earns through AirBnB.
