Former Port Stephens rehab centre CEO charged with perverting the course of justice
THE former chief executive of under fire Swan Bay rehabilitation centre Global Connect has been charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly issuing false reports about participants' drug use.
Christian Pastor Ross Pene, 68, appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with five counts of perverting the course of justice after a 12-month investigation by Strike Force Toopuntul.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted bail on a number of conditions, including reporting to police and a $20,000 surety.
The matter was adjourned until next month.
The Swan Bay centre had operated a community outreach program for men at "Fisherman's Village" for a decade before it was closed earlier this year after sustained criticism from police, bail breaches and raids.
Former Channel 7 TV star Andrew O'Keefe was among those granted bail to reside in the village, where 29 of the on-site cabins were used for rehabilitation purposes and 10 were used for tourism.
According to police, the State Crime Command's Raptor Squad North began investigating the rehabilitation centre on the banks of the Karuah River in May, 2024.
Detectives raided the centre on October 11 last year and seized electronic devices and documents that they allege uncovered Pene issuing fraudulent reports about the drug use of participants who were required to be at the facility drug free as part of their bail conditions.
Pene was arrested at Swan Bay on Wednesday morning and taken to Raymond Terrace police station where he was charged and refused bail by police.
He spent the day in the cells before he was granted bail on Wednesday afternoon.
THE former chief executive of under fire Swan Bay rehabilitation centre Global Connect has been charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly issuing false reports about participants' drug use.
Christian Pastor Ross Pene, 68, appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with five counts of perverting the course of justice after a 12-month investigation by Strike Force Toopuntul.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted bail on a number of conditions, including reporting to police and a $20,000 surety.
The matter was adjourned until next month.
The Swan Bay centre had operated a community outreach program for men at "Fisherman's Village" for a decade before it was closed earlier this year after sustained criticism from police, bail breaches and raids.
Former Channel 7 TV star Andrew O'Keefe was among those granted bail to reside in the village, where 29 of the on-site cabins were used for rehabilitation purposes and 10 were used for tourism.
According to police, the State Crime Command's Raptor Squad North began investigating the rehabilitation centre on the banks of the Karuah River in May, 2024.
Detectives raided the centre on October 11 last year and seized electronic devices and documents that they allege uncovered Pene issuing fraudulent reports about the drug use of participants who were required to be at the facility drug free as part of their bail conditions.
Pene was arrested at Swan Bay on Wednesday morning and taken to Raymond Terrace police station where he was charged and refused bail by police.
He spent the day in the cells before he was granted bail on Wednesday afternoon.
THE former chief executive of under fire Swan Bay rehabilitation centre Global Connect has been charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly issuing false reports about participants' drug use.
Christian Pastor Ross Pene, 68, appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with five counts of perverting the course of justice after a 12-month investigation by Strike Force Toopuntul.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted bail on a number of conditions, including reporting to police and a $20,000 surety.
The matter was adjourned until next month.
The Swan Bay centre had operated a community outreach program for men at "Fisherman's Village" for a decade before it was closed earlier this year after sustained criticism from police, bail breaches and raids.
Former Channel 7 TV star Andrew O'Keefe was among those granted bail to reside in the village, where 29 of the on-site cabins were used for rehabilitation purposes and 10 were used for tourism.
According to police, the State Crime Command's Raptor Squad North began investigating the rehabilitation centre on the banks of the Karuah River in May, 2024.
Detectives raided the centre on October 11 last year and seized electronic devices and documents that they allege uncovered Pene issuing fraudulent reports about the drug use of participants who were required to be at the facility drug free as part of their bail conditions.
Pene was arrested at Swan Bay on Wednesday morning and taken to Raymond Terrace police station where he was charged and refused bail by police.
He spent the day in the cells before he was granted bail on Wednesday afternoon.
THE former chief executive of under fire Swan Bay rehabilitation centre Global Connect has been charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly issuing false reports about participants' drug use.
Christian Pastor Ross Pene, 68, appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with five counts of perverting the course of justice after a 12-month investigation by Strike Force Toopuntul.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted bail on a number of conditions, including reporting to police and a $20,000 surety.
The matter was adjourned until next month.
The Swan Bay centre had operated a community outreach program for men at "Fisherman's Village" for a decade before it was closed earlier this year after sustained criticism from police, bail breaches and raids.
Former Channel 7 TV star Andrew O'Keefe was among those granted bail to reside in the village, where 29 of the on-site cabins were used for rehabilitation purposes and 10 were used for tourism.
According to police, the State Crime Command's Raptor Squad North began investigating the rehabilitation centre on the banks of the Karuah River in May, 2024.
Detectives raided the centre on October 11 last year and seized electronic devices and documents that they allege uncovered Pene issuing fraudulent reports about the drug use of participants who were required to be at the facility drug free as part of their bail conditions.
Pene was arrested at Swan Bay on Wednesday morning and taken to Raymond Terrace police station where he was charged and refused bail by police.
He spent the day in the cells before he was granted bail on Wednesday afternoon.
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