Punjab origin man accused of causing a crash that killed four members of a Victorian family has been granted bail, despite police fears he will flee the country.
Indian national Jobandeep Gill, 27, is facing charges including four counts of culpable driving causing death over the crash at Catani last Friday.
Mr Gill was granted bail on the conditions he present to police twice a week, not drive any vehicle and on a surety of $15,000, to be contributed by his wife, a family friend and a fellow truck driver.
Mr Gill is due to return to court on June 12.
The prosecution had argued Mr Gill should be denied bail because of the risk of fleeing and the serious nature of the charges against him.
But the driver’s barrister, Abdullah Altintop, said Mr Gill had ties to the community, as he was married to an Australian citizen and had applied for permanent residency.
Mr Gill, dressed in a red T-shirt, showed no emotion when Mr Lauritsen announced his decision.
During the hearing, the court heard Mr Gill told police his gearbox jammed as he approached the intersection and that his truck continued moving.
But Detective Acting Sergeant Trevor Collins, of the major collision investigation unit, said that explanation was “extremely implausible” based on the evidence at the scene.
He was granted bail in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Source: 9 News