Law on Making False Declarations in NSW | Demerit Point Fraud Offences
61-year-old former South Australian Magistrate Bob Harrap has pressured his partner, a police prosecutor, and a court clerk into the blame for his demerit points. Harrap also pleaded guilty to being involved in corruption in relation to court proceedings involving a close friend, who is a lawyer. It’s reported that the former Local Court ...continue reading
Queensland Mum Charged with Fraud Over Misusing Public Donations for Her Son’s Funeral
Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh. A mother from Townsville in Queensland’s north whose son died in a car crash has been charged with fraud after it was discovered she allegedly misused the public funds raised for his funeral on gambling and a shopping spree. On June 18 2020, Lesley-Lee Hill attended the funeral of ...continue reading
The Law on Making or Using Counterfeit or Fake Money in Australia
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh. In June 2020, a police hunt commenced for a woman believed responsible for duping a string of struggling businesses with fake $50 notes at Pooraka’s Paddy’s Markets in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. Cool and composed, CCTV footage reveals the woman initially walked into a fresh food market where she ...continue reading
The New Laws on Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System: The Diversionary Pathway
There is an available legislative framework for a NSW court to determine criminal proceedings where the accused or defendant has mental health issues relevant to the case. This legislative framework is echoed in The Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) (‘The Act’). It is a response to the increasing contact with the criminal ...continue reading
Concerns Reignited for Prisoners Amid Further Outbreaks of COVID-19
By Poppy Morandin. There are reportedly 70 inmates in lockdown within Silverwater Correctional Complex after coming into close contact with a staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Within their advocacy efforts, The Greens have issued an open letter to Anthony Roberts, Minister for Corrections detailing the “significant concerns…about the lockdown at Silverwater ...continue reading
Law on the Age of Criminal Responsibility in NSW: An Interview with Greens MP David Shoebridge
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Despite a strong campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14, the decision has been deferred to 2021, following concerns that further work needs to be done regarding processes and services for children who exhibit offending behaviour. The issue was discussed at the meeting ...continue reading
How Does COVID-19 Affect Bail Applications in NSW?
By Fouad Awada and Jimmy Singh. On 30 March 2020, the Supreme Court of New South Wales handed down a decision granting conditional bail to Mr Abdul Rakielbakhour who was accused and charged with serious domestic violence charges. Mr Rakielbakhour was arrested and charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, alleged ...continue reading
Law, Penalties and Defences for Centrelink Charges
It is reported that 35-year-old mother, Melka Krunes from Townsville has managed to get her hands on a total of $26,018 over a period of almost 7-years from the commonwealth entity, Centrelink. The financial advantage she received by providing incorrect information to Centrelink occurred from 2011 to 2017. During that period, she had made ...continue reading
What are the Rules Around NSW Police Strip Searching a Person?
241,000 is the number that has been given to NSW Police Officers, representing the quota for conducting personal searches, including strip searches on people for the 2019 financial year. In fact, in 2019, NSW Police failed to meet its quota by just under 2000 searches. NSW Greens managed to obtained the shocking revelation through the ...continue reading
What is a Criminal Lawyers’ Role?
Criminal lawyers represent people from all walks of life. Unfortunately, movies and TV shows have portrayed criminal lawyers in a bad light, prompting members of the public asking the question criminal lawyers get asked too often, “but how can you defend a criminal?”, or “how can you defend a guilty person?”. Too often we ...continue reading