Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell pleads guilty but court rejects it as deeper secrets behind massive fraud emerge
Troy Pannell has seen his reputation take a nosedive in a dramatic legal situation. The 48-year-old, who officiated 291 AFL games from 2005 to 2018, including five finals, is now facing serious allegations of defrauding his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, out of more than $8.7 million over a span of ten years.
In addition to these fraud claims, Pannell is also facing criminal charges related to theft and driving offenses. He recently tried to plead guilty to some of these charges, but the court rejected his plea—or at least postponed it—keeping the case open and revealing more complicated issues.
Troy Pannell's court absence leads to immediate legal action
Pannell's legal problems really took a turn when he missed a hearing at the Victorian Supreme Court for the civil case from SeaRoad Shipping.
Upset, Justice Andrew Watson issued an arrest warrant, believing Pannell had left Victoria, possibly heading towards South Australia. 'He has failed to appear,' Justice Watson declared in court, as noted in Supreme Court proceedings, prompting immediate action.
In early June, the story took a dramatic twist when Pannell, reportedly evading the police, crashed his vehicle into a tree.
The impact was so serious that he needed to be airlifted to the hospital for urgent surgery.
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After he recovered, he was taken directly to Fulham Prison in Sale, starting his stint behind bars.
Troy Pannell expresses frustration with court delays
Troy Pannell's initial significant court appearance following his arrest took place via video link at the Heidelberg Magistrates Court. With a beard and dressed in a green prison outfit, he looked nothing like the refined umpire fans once recognized.
He aimed to plead guilty to multiple criminal charges: the theft of a $45,000 Hyundai Tucson, a $2,000 mobile phone, and driving violations, which included failing to stop when instructed by the police.
'I just want the plea done,' Pannell told the court, as reported in the Heidelberg Magistrates Court hearing, showing his eagerness to resolve these matters.
But the hearing faced a hiccup. Only six days prior, his last lawyer had withdrawn, leaving his new legal team caught off guard. The court pushed back the hearing to give them some breathing room, effectively postponing Pannell's guilty plea. 'I'm just in a cell in here.
Not a psych facility. I've seen a nurse every couple of days,' Pannell explained to the magistrate, who asked if he was at risk of self-harm. 'No sir,' he replied firmly, as recorded in court transcripts.
On the same day, in another Supreme Court hearing, Pannell discussed the civil fraud case. With guards by his side and sporting a grey tracksuit and green shirt, he acknowledged a crucial detail — he didn't own assets valued at $8.7 million.
'Yes, I accept that,' He informed Justice Watson, who inquired whether he realized that pleading guilty to this charge implied he acknowledged not having those assets as of March 2 and May 1, based on Supreme Court records.
Troy Pannell disputed a related accusation regarding the sale of a racehorse, Aimee's Jewel, after his assets were frozen. He confessed to sending $10,000 in cash to a friend, Maree Wilke, for the sale, stating, 'I won't be contesting the $10,000 cash, no … I am in terms I sold the filly prior to any freezing order.'
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Troy Pannell's journey is a dramatic decline from his former glory. He was once seen as a person of integrity on the AFL field, but now his legacy is marred by claims of greed and dishonesty. For SeaRoad Shipping, this serves as an expensive lesson in vigilance.
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