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A Melbourne socialite was allegedly captured on CCTV pulling a bag of drugs out of her jacket at a Mt Buller bar before lacing her friend’s drink with the powder.
Amy Tossoun, 34, of Brighton, appeared in Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where the details of her night out with friends, including alleged victim Melissa Jreissati, were aired for the first time.
Sergeant Karen Knotley told the court the accused woman had been staying at a Mount Buller chalet with her partner, while their friends stayed at accommodation nearby on July 26, 2025.
The group dined at the Black Cockatoo restaurant on the mountain before moving to the Kooroora Hotel and then proceeding downstairs for drinks and dancing.
At 10.37pm, Knotley told the court CCTV showed Tossoun approach the bar with the victim and another friend where she ordered and paid for three vodka sodas.
She said the accused turned the victim away from the bar and back towards the dance floor.
“The accused had a small deal bag with MDMA in her snow jacket,” Knotley said. “She immediately separated one glass to administer the amphetamines.”
The court heard other friends were aware that the accused had MDMA and was going to add it to her own drink and her partner’s drink after earlier suggesting they should all do some together.
“CCTV shows the accused place amphetamines into the remaining drink and mix it with a straw.”
The court heard when the drinks were collected by a friend and taken to the dance floor, the accused followed and swapped out the drinks, giving the complainant the one laced with drugs.
The complainant told police she recalled the drink tasted astringent and went to the bar to add more soda and lime. She left soon after but began to feel dizzy and unwell about 10.55pm, and an ambulance was called over fears she was suffering from a heart attack.
She was admitted to urgent care and tested positive to drugs.
Knotley said the CCTV was very comprehensive and depicts the entire incident.
Tossoun has been charged with possessing amphetamine and introducing a drug of dependence into the body of a person.
The police prosecutor had attempted to close the court before the hearing began, arguing the complainant could suffer psychological harm if media were able to continue to report on the case.
When tested by the magistrate on what evidence could be supplied to support the application, it was abandoned.
Tossoun’s legal team asked for her case to be heard via the diversion program which allows first-time offenders to avoid a criminal record.
Defence lawyer Michelle Button said her client wasn’t charged until eight months after the incident, and it was a case of poor judgment on a night out involving a friend.
Button said the shame and embarrassment of having the case reported on in the news had impacted Tossoun greatly as she had no prior criminal history.
“These were two people who were friends prior to this incident,” Button said. “There is a saying ‘good people make mistakes’.”
Button said her client worked hard to contribute to society, including by volunteering for an overseas orphanage, was an active member of an Orthodox church in Armadale, ran a half-marathon for charity and sought to use her public profile for good.
“She’s a respected, honest, caring person in her daily life. She showed concern for friend on the night,” Button said.
However, the magistrate pressed her on how and why support was shown and when Tossoun told her friend she had spiked her drink.
This, the court heard, occurred the day after and not while the complainant was in hospital or being treated by paramedics. This, Button said, was because there was a suggestion someone else may have “roofied” the woman.
“It wasn’t until the next day those discussions took place,” Button said.
“There was not just my client, there was a few who knew. In hindsight, my client probably could have done more.”
Magistrate Amina Bhai refused the application for a diversion, noting the matter was serious.
“You took away the right of another person to say no to consuming a substance. Not only that … she did not know what was happening to her as a result of that,” the magistrate said.
Button then said her client would contest the matter with “all issues” now in dispute.
The court heard it would now proceed as a three-day contested hearing later this year where six witnesses, including the alleged victim and others there on the night, would have to give evidence.
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