Ita Buttrose’s niece’s high-flying businessman son Andrew Spira arrested in Darwin, refused bail

The second cousin of ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose has been remanded in custody in Darwin after allegedly attempting to use fraudulent credit card details to fly abroad.

Andrew Spira – the son of former Sydney socialite Lizzie Buttrose and businessman John Spira – reportedly applied for a new passport, claiming his passport had been stolen despite handing it over to NSW police.

Spira stood before Darwin’s local court on Wednesday morning charged with dealing in identification information, using and possessing false documents, possession or use of a firearm without a license, improper storage of a firearm and possession of negotiable quantities steroids.

The 24-year-old Sydney entrepreneur offered his multimillion-dollar property as surety and told the judge that he faced “a high risk of death” if he were sent to prison in the territory.

Judge Elisabeth Morris, however, said she was unable to meet bail requirements that would ensure he remained in the territory.

“I am willing to forfeit everything I have to the court in exchange for bail,” he said.

“My error of judgment was unfortunately completely flawed because of drugs.

Police alleged that Spira and a 22-year-old companion chartered a private jet from NSW to the Northern Territory last week and stayed at the Darwin Hilton for five days.

The court heard that Spira allegedly used encrypted electronic devices “for dishonest purposes” and forged several letters, including one from his previous lawyer, but denied all knowledge of the documents when questioned by police.

Detectives and officers from the Joint Organized Crime Task Force executed a search warrant in a hotel room on Mitchell Street where the couple was staying, and reportedly seized an unlicensed firearm, a negotiable amount of a Schedule 2 dangerous drug, and a large quantity of electronic devices.

The pair were arrested a short time later in the hotel lobby.

Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal that the alleged incident comes days after Spira recorded a bizarre video targeting his former fiancé Julia Maguire, 40, which he shared on social media.

The clip shows the former Cranbrook student wearing a watch on each wrist and designer sunglasses as he accuses his former partner of “insulting him in the media.”

“For my beloved ex, it is very nice to know that you had a nice summer, very nice to know,” he began.

Spira’s mother Lizzie Buttrose with his great-aunt Ita Buttrose

Pictured: Andrew Spira, second cousin of ABC president Ita Buttrose

Andrew Spira has been charged with alleged credit card and passport fraud

“Thank you for writing an article about my house that I paid for,” he said.

“You gave me no support, we barely spoke for seven years. I’ve paid all the bills, I’ve paid all the vacations.’

‘You didn’t do anything. Stop bullying me to the media. … All I’m going to do is work harder.” he concluded.

His arrest comes after a May 9 court appearance in which he was granted bail in Sutherland local court on the condition that he stay at a Bondi mental health clinic after allegedly holding a fake British passport and name used to travel abroad for a business deal after being ‘tricked’ into thinking an airline was ‘out to get him’.

Spira founded his business loan company Pineapple Funding in 2018, with employees in Australia and the Philippines.

Spira was previously engaged to Julia Maguire, 16 years his senior

Andrew Spira’s house in the Vaucluse is up for sale following his divorce from his much older fiancée

On Wednesday, he told the court he was concerned about his team, his shareholders and his parents, whom he supported financially.

‘I’ve been working very hard… lately it seems unfortunately that I’m falling back into old habits.

“If I don’t get a chance to get my affairs in order… not only will I be at risk, but my family as well.”

“I am in urgent need of medical attention, I have constant seizures, I understand the penal system here is quite strict as it is in New South Wales, except I imagine there is a lot more violence and I think I am at high risk I’m going to die if I don’t get medical help,” he said.

The court heard that Spira owned a house in the upscale Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, along with 16 investment properties.

However, the Vaucluse property that Spira bought with his former fiancée went on the market last week with a target price of $9 million.

After getting engaged to Aril last year, the pair are reported to have recently broken up, with the 16-year age difference being a factor.