The Bug‘s finance and investment columnist, Morrie Bezzle, has appeared in a Brisbane court charged with a range of offences under food safety and consumer laws.

Morrison Edison Phar Lap Bezzle of no fixed age and address was charged with the unauthorised sale for human consumption and the misleading advertising and marketing of an animal vermin poison.

Mr Bezzle (below) pleaded not guilty to all charges during a brief committal hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

At the hearing, Queensland Police prosecutor, Senior Sergeant Lewis Sirterry, said numerous Brisbane residents had lodged complaints after drinking the tea which they had bought through advertisements placed online and in newspapers by Mr Bezzle.

“The advertisements promised to provide buyers with what was described as ‘Morrie Bezzle’s signature blend tea’, namely the product Ratsaka tea,” Senior Sergeant Sirterry told Magistrate Madge E. Strait.

“When the product was delivered to buyers it turned out to be a crudely modified packet of rat poison. (main picture)

“Police needed to wait until the complainants left hospital after being treated for persistent projectile vomiting. They were then interviewed and officers proceeded to a Brisbane warehouse where they located and arrested and charged the defendant.”

Outside court Mr Bezzle told reporters he was “ready to wage yet another battle against the shiny-arsed pen pushers” who had brought the charges against him.

“I am just a struggling small business operator trying to earn a quid in the lucrative and growing field of alternative energy drinks,” Mr Bezzle explained.

“I’ve been reading and hearing about all sorts of concoctions hitting the market in recent years – kombucha, matcha teas or coffees, and horchata tea, plus others.

“All I’ve been doing is trying to get a piece of the action. What’s wrong with that?” he asked reporters.

“If the raw ingredient I used is so bad for you, how come I was able to buy it in bulk in Aldi’s middle aisle the other week?

“This is yet another instance of red tape gone mad and big brother government trying to crush little battlers like me.

“It’s no wonder more people are voting for One Nation,” he said before inviting reporters to join him for “a cuppa and chat”, which they all declined.

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