designer fraud

I want to go back to one of my hobby horse subjects. It involves a court case and my question: How can some lawyers lie straight in bed at night?

The case involves an Australian clothes designer, systematic fraud, and a lawyer who invoked the health of the defendant’s mother to try to excuse his criminal behaviour.

Myles Jonathan West, aged 43, finally pleaded guilty to five fraud charges. His clothing brand called Private Collection specialised in clothes for larger women.

He spent more than $40,000 on air fares and hotels on personal spending sprees in London and Hong Kong. He was so calculating and brazen that he spent almost $350,000 in a credit card spending spree when he knew police were investigating earlier fraud allegations.

His lawyer claimed he had been going through a family crisis with his mother desperately ill, his marriage in tatters and his business in dire straits.

Yeah, sure. That’s why you embezzle thousands upon thousands of dollars and go off to Hong Kong and London.

He didn’t take his sick mum. And as for his marriage being in tatters. That didn’t last long. One of his defences in court was that he was now dedicated to caring for his baby twins with his new young wife.

But his luck held. Even though the magistrate said his crimes involved “too much money… too calculated” he sentenced him only to 12 months of weekend detention and a two-year good behaviour bond.

Sometimes I wonder how some lawyers keep a straight face in court.

Monday, January 30, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006