Suspended trainer Jarrod McLean has been linked to a police investigation into an incident relating to extortion and threats to kill and damage property.
Victoria Police said they have interviewed two men over an alleged incident in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville between May and December 2019.
“The men, aged 39 and 45 from Yangery and Baringhup, were released and are expected to be charged on summons in relation to blackmail, extortion, make threats to kill and threats to damage property offences,” police said in a statement.
The Age newspaper has named the 39-year-old as McLean and Racing Victoria says it is aware of the new investigation.
“We’ve been notified by Victoria Police that they have an ongoing investigation into the conduct of a male from Yangery and another from Baringhup,” RV said.
“As it is an ongoing police investigation it’s inappropriate for us to comment any further, other than to say that we remain interested in the matter.”
The former assistant to disqualified trainer Darren Weir, McLean was one of four men arrested in January, 2019 and charged with various offences including the use of electrical devices on horses, commonly known as jiggers.
The 49-year-old Weir, at the time Australia’s biggest trainer, was disqualified for four years in February while McLean is fighting the racing charges.
McLean was stood down by racing officials in October after he and Weir were charged by the Victoria Police Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit with multiple offences.
McLean is scheduled in court next month to answer charges of engaging in torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying a thoroughbred racehorse; causing unreasonable pain or suffering to a thoroughbred racehorse; conduct that corrupts betting outcomes and possessing cocaine.
