Nir Meir To Remain In Rikers

Nir Meir’s stay in Rikers could last a lot longer.

At a hearing on Wednesday in Lower Manhattan, Meir’s attorney pleaded with Judge Ann Thompson to reduce the former real estate executive’s bail to an amount he could realistically pay.

But Thompson largely denied Meir’s request. Meir will have to pay $5 million cash or $7.5 million partially secured bond — amounts that his team claims he does not have.

“We are disappointed with the bail reduction,” said Meir’s attorney Oliver Storch, saying the adjusted amounts were still high enough that he is essentially being held without bail.

“It still amounts to a de facto remand and pre-conviction punishment,” Storch said.

Meir made a brief appearance in court in a tan jumpsuit looking visibly overweight, sporting a gray beard and slicked-back hair. Meir did not speak at the hearing.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office alleges Meir was the mastermind of a $86 million fraud scheme that involved moving money out of accounts designated for HFZ Capital Group projects, resulting in shortfalls. At the center of the alleged scheme is the XI, a twisting condo development on Manhattan’s High Line.

Meir has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Since his arrest last year, he has been held in Rikers.

The D.A. also charged the contractor on the XI, Omnibuild and three of its people, including former CEO John Mingione. Omnibuild and Mingione have pleaded not guilty and claimed to be a victim of Meir.

HFZ and an affiliate have pleaded guilty to three counts of grand larceny and criminal city tax fraud. HFZ also pointed the finger at Meir for alleged bad acts.

Storch sought to reduce his bail at a hearing last summer to $250,000. Storch suggested Meir could enter an alternative-to-incarceration program founded by Catholic prison chaplains in the South Bronx.

The D.A.’s office argued Meir should have no bail.

“The defendant shows that he has a loose connection to telling the truth,” said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Beard at the July hearing. “Individuals who testified referred to him as a pathological liar.”

But Thompson’s decision this week was a quick one, with no lengthy back-and-forth between the attorneys.

Thompson agreed Meir’s initial bail was excessive and reduced the bail on two indictments Meir was charged under to $1. But on a third, Thompson kept the cash bail at $5 million but reduced the insurance bond and partially secured bond to $7.5 million from $10 million and $15 million, respectively.

Meir was arrested last year at the 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach as an out-of-state fugitive.

Storch again stressed that Meir was not on the run, saying in a statement the former executive “was actually at his residence while his children had visitation and not actively fleeing from justice.”

Storch claims Meir voluntarily disclosed his previously unknown French citizenship and passport to the court and D.A.’s office. These are “hardly the actions of someone looking to abscond,” Storch said.

“Mr. Meir is seriously prejudiced by not being able to review his voluminous discovery in a meaningful way on Rikers in violation of his 6th Amendment right to counsel,” said Storch. “The fight for justice continues.”

At the end of the hearing, Meir put his head down, seemingly disappointed by the outcome. He walked towards the exit handcuffed, heading back to Rikers.