Ryan Meuleman, 28, has been granted bail to a residential rehabilitation facility as he faces charges related to an alleged carjacking incident in Melbourne's southeast on May 3. Meuleman is also pursuing a defamation claim against former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews.
Meuleman appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he was charged with offenses stemming from the May 3 incident. Authorities allege that Meuleman, dressed in a hoodie and underwear, entered the driver's seat of a car parked outside a Pakenham laundromat. He is accused of starting the engine and attempting to drive away, but a woman inside the vehicle with her two young children began to scream. The court heard that a struggle ensued over the gear stick before the woman's husband, who had been collecting laundry, intervened. The husband reportedly pulled Meuleman from the car and restrained him until police arrived. Meuleman was allegedly on bail for separate burglary and theft charges at the time of the incident.
Meuleman's defense team argued for his release to a residential rehabilitation facility to address drug issues, stating he has struggled with substance abuse since he was 15. This age coincides with a collision Meuleman had with Daniel Andrews and his wife, Catherine, an incident central to Meuleman's defamation lawsuit and widely referred to as the 'bike boy' saga.
Magistrate Phillip Goldberg initially expressed concerns about supervision at a proposed facility in Shepparton, leading to an adjournment for the defense to explore electronic monitoring options. On Wednesday, it was confirmed the Shepparton facility could not offer further monitoring, but Meuleman's barrister, Tom Smedley, argued for bail to the regional rehabilitation center. Magistrate Goldberg ultimately agreed, citing strict conditions to mitigate the risk of reoffending or endangering the public. These conditions include a complete ban on leaving the facility and restrictions on the use of communication devices, limiting them to those provided by the facility. Meuleman is scheduled for release on Thursday, pending the availability of a bed.
Meuleman's criminal charges have delayed his defamation case against the Andrews, for which a hearing date has not yet been set. The defamation claim originates from a statement released by the Andrews in 2024, in response to a newspaper article. The article suggested a review into the 2013 collision indicated police misconduct and questioned the accuracy of Mr. Andrews' account. The Andrews have maintained they did nothing wrong and declined to comment on what they termed "appalling conspiracy theories." Meuleman asserts that the Andrews' statement was improper and seeks aggravated damages, though the Andrews have denied the defamation allegations.