Day: December 16, 2011

FRESH concerns have emerged over the State Government’s ability to vet staff after revelations that a third public servant with a criminal history has been discovered this year.

Just days after revealing a man who allegedly embezzled $16 million from Queensland Health had a criminal history in New Zealand, The Courier-Mail has learnt that Corrective Services has hired a prison guard convicted of drug and weapon offences.

The guard was handed a job because a person ticked a wrong box during the check process.

Jennifer Dann was employed full-time by Queensland Corrective Services in July and worked at the Brisbane and Woodford correctional centres.

Dann was sacked three months later but only after concerns from an outsider were raised that a woman with her criminal history would be allowed to guard prisoners.

This follows a blunder in March when a Croatian man on Interpol’s most wanted list was discovered working as a state government security guard after 18 months patrolling the executive building and courts.

The Government does not undertake its own criminal checks, rather it sends names of applicants to the Queensland Police Service, which runs them through the national criminal database Crimtrac. The information is returned to the departments for their assessment.

According to court records, Dann has a conviction recorded at Caboolture Magistrates Court in 2000 for possession of a dangerous drug and weapon as well as secure storage of a weapon.

Acting Corrective Services Commissioner Marlene Morrison acknowledged the error and said the check did pick up her history and her job application was rejected. However, an administrative error resulted in Dann’s employment after she sought a review.

Ms Morrison said Dann worked full-time at Brisbane Correctional Centre and Woodfood Correctional Centre for three months but was sacked the day after they found out.

“A review of the criminal history checking established that an administration officer mistakenly ticked the incorrect box on a form” she said.

Ms Morrison said there was no evidence of impropriety during Dann’s tenure, but did not say if other people with criminal histories had been employed as prison guards.

In similar circumstances, the Department of Public Works only became aware of the past of security guard Marino Katalinic, 36, after he held his job for 18 months.

He was sacked on May 31 this year after he was found guilty of impersonating a police officer and The Courier-Mail revealed he was wanted by Croatian authorities over drug and theft convictions from 2004.

Responding to the Government’s failure to pick up on Morehu-Barlow’s criminal history, Police and Corrective Services Minister Neil Roberts this week acknowledged flaws with the system.

The three cases raise serious questions about the State Government’s handling of employees’ criminal checks.

The latest revelations come as three senior health managers were stood down on full pay by Queensland Health yesterday pending an investigation into the failure to detect the illegal transfer of millions of dollars.

But the decision sparked fresh calls for Health Minister Geoff Wilson to be sacked as the Opposition insisted the Bligh Government had a long record of blaming only bureaucrats.

Police have charged Brisbane socialite and Health purchasing officer Joel Morehu-Barlow with one count of defrauding the department of $11 million.

An investigation last year cleared him of any wrongdoing despite a detailed complaint, while payments of $4 million to a trading entity set up by Morehu-Barlow are outlined in the department’s annual reports.

(Courier Mail, Alison Sandy and Steven Wardill, 15/12/2011)

WHILE accused fraudster Joel Morehu-Barlow sits in a solitary jail cell at Wacol prison an entertainment package worth nearly $100,000 is en route from Europe for him.

Only days before the accused fraudster became the state’s most-wanted man and was eventually charged with defrauding $11 million, he was having the time of his life, enjoying a lavish spending spree.

The 36-year-old purchased an opulent $5.65 million River House in the new Pietra development at Moray St, New Farm, and paid for it in full.

But the spending didn’t stop there – his extravagant lifestyle was just beginning.

Court documents reveal Morehu-Barlow went on to purchase items including a top-of-the-range 2.15m 3D TV described as one of “the most expensive sets ever produced”.

He purchased the TV and associated accessories for $95,070 from Bang and Olufsen’s Fortitude Valley store. But little did he know the exclusive entertainment package which was sent from Denmark was due to arrive in Australia when he would behind bars.

The goods will be seized once they arrive in Australia.

During his short-lived spree he also purchased a luxury Mercedes-Benz and two top-of-the-range jet skis.

He also bought an elaborate, grey, 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan for $135,214.

He then went on to buy two Sea-Doo jet skis at Brisbane Jet Skis at Zillmere on Brisbane’s northside.

One was a luxury performance model and the other a sports model, together costing more $42,000.

But he had little time to use his new plush toys, he would be arrested by police only eight days after he bought them. Documents show the self-proclaimed Tahitian prince was known by various names including Hohepa Morehu-Barlow, Joel Barlow, Joseph Barlow and Joel Hikairo Morehu-Barlow.

In the documents it reveals he held eight bank accounts with more than $1.5 million in them and another account in his company’s name which had a healthy balance of $2.91 million.

He also owned another two luxury cars – a grey, 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan and a 2004, silver BMW 530i sedan.

Morehu-Barlow was also interested in music and art and had a selection of paintings and a baby grand piano.

(The Courier-Mail, Sophie Elsworth, 16/12/2011)

Ponzi operator Simon Finnigan, who defrauded investors of $1.96 million while he lived the life of an apparent millionaire businessman, has been sentenced to 10 years jail in what the sentencing judge said was one of the toughest terms imposed for a Ponzi scheme offence.

Some of the investors sitting in the NSW District Court wept with relief as Judge Michael Finnane told Finnigan he was sentencing him to 10 years jail, with a six-year non parole period.

Judge Finnane said the requirement to protect the community sometimes called for a longer sentence.

‘‘I think this is called for in this case because I see not the slightest evidence (Finnigan) has any appreciation of all the damage and destruction he has caused.”

Finnigan sat impassive as the judge said the sentence ”may seem to be one of the toughest ever imposed”.

Finnigan was not licensed as a financial planner, nor did his many companies – most noteably Financial Partners Pty Ltd – have any financial licenses.

He promised Financial Partners Pty Ltd would invest in shares, derivatives, property and in one case – Biotech Solutions Pty Ltd – a revolutionary water product that when listed on the stock exchange would produce huge windfall gains. He gave personal guarantees, and promised up to 15 per cent return.

Instead the money went on paying his personal credit card expenses, for overseas travel, the running costs of his business, and on interest to earlier investors. He pleaded guilty to nine charges spanning 2001 to 2007.

BusinessDay has confirmed with other investors that the extent of losses is much larger than the $1.96 million Finnigan was charged with and pleaded guilty to.

Finnigan was taken into custody in court. Justice Finnane said he would recommend to custodial authorities that Finnigan be assessed for entry to a minimum security prison.

Sourced from: http://www.smh.com.au/business/conman-gets-long-jail-sentence-20111216-1oyf1.html#ixzz1gfqsdXsJ, Leonie Lamont, December 16, 2011