A Melbourne underworld figure who allegedly denied being the driver in a 209km/h crash despite being alone in the car, has been granted $400,000 bail.
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Nabil Maghnie, 43, was found to have cocaine in his system after what police described as a "substantial high-impact collision" at "grossly excessive speed" in May this year, a magistrate said in granted bail on Tuesday.
But Maghnie will have his freedom severely restricted.
His release is only approved for 90 days while he attends a residential drug rehab facility.
Maghnie has previously driven himself to hospital, after being shot in the head for a second time, and was investigated over the 2011 shooting of Bandidos bikie gang enforcer Toby Mitchell.
His 18-year-old son, Jacob Elliott, is in custody, charged with murdering two people in a drive-by shooting outside Prahran's Love Machine nightclub in April.
Maghnie is due to stand trial on charges of reckless conduct putting people in danger of death, driving while disqualified and under the influence of drugs, and committing offences while on bail.
The court was told he denied driving a Range Rover involved in the crash at Woodstock, where the vehicle collided with a roundabout, became airborne and struck another car before continuing out of control into a paddock.
Two people in the other car were not seriously injured and they and other witnesses didn't see anyone else around, Magistrate Kieran Gilligan said.
Maghnie collapsed at the scene and was taken to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma and found to have cocaine in his system.
Another man, Nicholas Ruaro, later claimed he was behind the wheel and fled after the crash.
Phone analysis put him three hours away at Myrtleford, while DNA linked Maghnie to the driver's airbag.
Maghnie sought bail over concerns he may not be able to stand trial until 2021.
Prosecutors opposed his release, fearing he would commit more offences or attempt to pervert the course of justice.
But Mr Gilligan noted Maghnie wanted to "get his life back on track".
He said Maghnie's long drug history wasn't disputed, that he'd become addicted to cocaine at 25 and later moved to methamphetamine.
Maghnie must surrender his passport, not contact any co-accused and not use drugs.
He'll have to return to court once his stint in rehab is completed.
Australian Associated Press
