Latest news with #Pannell
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Ex-AFL umpire admits to horse sale while assets frozen
A former AFL umpire who sold a racehorse he owned and gave his former partner $10,000 cash has admitted he breached a court-imposed freeze on his assets. Troy Pannell had previously pleaded guilty to four charges brought by his former company SeaRoad Shipping, relating to payments he had made while working there. Justice Andrew Watson had issued an order on Pannell to prevent him and his company Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors disposing of any goods unless he had assets worth more than $8.7 million. If he sold any of his holdings, those sales must not bring his worth under the amount. Pannell, who was self-represented, on Friday pleaded guilty to two charges of contempt after he handed $10,000 cash to his then partner and sold a racehorse which were in breach of his asset restrictions. The former AFL umpire had initially contested the horse sale charge, claiming in the Melbourne Supreme Court he was not the horse's owner so the sale was not a breach of the order. The plaintiff laid out his evidence, referring to the affidavits of two witnesses, including Matthew Scown, the general manager of Yarraman Park, a thoroughbred racehorse breeding company, and former partner Maree Wilke. Mr Scown said his company had entered into an agreement with Pannell for his horse Aimee's Jewel in 2022. "The stallion service agreement records Mr Pannell as 100 per cent owner of mare Aimee's Jewel," Mr Scown's affidavit read. The company's general manager detailed all the correspondence with Pannell, including preparations for the horse in the lead up to the sale and when the funds were dispersed. "Mr Pannell is recorded as the owner of the filly in all records held by Yarraman ...Yarraman sold the filly on 2 March in accordance with Mr Pannell's authority and direction," Mr Scown said. In Ms Wilke's affidavit, she said she had expressed shock over a transfer form for the horse which bared her signature which she did not sign. "This is the first time that I've seen that document ... I told him I didn't sign it. He told me he signed it on my behalf," she said. "In response to me saying I was worried about being charged under the freezing order, (Pannell) told me I couldn't be charged because I owned the filly." After hearing the plaintiff's evidence, Justice Watson asked Pannell if he wanted to reconsider his position or wished to proceed with cross-examining the witnesses. "I think I'll retract and change after hearing all that," Pannell answered. "You want to plead guilty to fifth charge of contempt now?" the judge asked. "Yes I will, your honour," the accused responded. The experienced umpire, who has presided over more than 200 AFL games, attracted attention after he awarded 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs in a 2016 match against the Adelaide Crows. Pannell will return to the court on Tuesday to learn of his penalty. A former AFL umpire who sold a racehorse he owned and gave his former partner $10,000 cash has admitted he breached a court-imposed freeze on his assets. Troy Pannell had previously pleaded guilty to four charges brought by his former company SeaRoad Shipping, relating to payments he had made while working there. Justice Andrew Watson had issued an order on Pannell to prevent him and his company Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors disposing of any goods unless he had assets worth more than $8.7 million. If he sold any of his holdings, those sales must not bring his worth under the amount. Pannell, who was self-represented, on Friday pleaded guilty to two charges of contempt after he handed $10,000 cash to his then partner and sold a racehorse which were in breach of his asset restrictions. The former AFL umpire had initially contested the horse sale charge, claiming in the Melbourne Supreme Court he was not the horse's owner so the sale was not a breach of the order. The plaintiff laid out his evidence, referring to the affidavits of two witnesses, including Matthew Scown, the general manager of Yarraman Park, a thoroughbred racehorse breeding company, and former partner Maree Wilke. Mr Scown said his company had entered into an agreement with Pannell for his horse Aimee's Jewel in 2022. "The stallion service agreement records Mr Pannell as 100 per cent owner of mare Aimee's Jewel," Mr Scown's affidavit read. The company's general manager detailed all the correspondence with Pannell, including preparations for the horse in the lead up to the sale and when the funds were dispersed. "Mr Pannell is recorded as the owner of the filly in all records held by Yarraman ...Yarraman sold the filly on 2 March in accordance with Mr Pannell's authority and direction," Mr Scown said. In Ms Wilke's affidavit, she said she had expressed shock over a transfer form for the horse which bared her signature which she did not sign. "This is the first time that I've seen that document ... I told him I didn't sign it. He told me he signed it on my behalf," she said. "In response to me saying I was worried about being charged under the freezing order, (Pannell) told me I couldn't be charged because I owned the filly." After hearing the plaintiff's evidence, Justice Watson asked Pannell if he wanted to reconsider his position or wished to proceed with cross-examining the witnesses. "I think I'll retract and change after hearing all that," Pannell answered. "You want to plead guilty to fifth charge of contempt now?" the judge asked. "Yes I will, your honour," the accused responded. The experienced umpire, who has presided over more than 200 AFL games, attracted attention after he awarded 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs in a 2016 match against the Adelaide Crows. Pannell will return to the court on Tuesday to learn of his penalty. A former AFL umpire who sold a racehorse he owned and gave his former partner $10,000 cash has admitted he breached a court-imposed freeze on his assets. Troy Pannell had previously pleaded guilty to four charges brought by his former company SeaRoad Shipping, relating to payments he had made while working there. Justice Andrew Watson had issued an order on Pannell to prevent him and his company Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors disposing of any goods unless he had assets worth more than $8.7 million. If he sold any of his holdings, those sales must not bring his worth under the amount. Pannell, who was self-represented, on Friday pleaded guilty to two charges of contempt after he handed $10,000 cash to his then partner and sold a racehorse which were in breach of his asset restrictions. The former AFL umpire had initially contested the horse sale charge, claiming in the Melbourne Supreme Court he was not the horse's owner so the sale was not a breach of the order. The plaintiff laid out his evidence, referring to the affidavits of two witnesses, including Matthew Scown, the general manager of Yarraman Park, a thoroughbred racehorse breeding company, and former partner Maree Wilke. Mr Scown said his company had entered into an agreement with Pannell for his horse Aimee's Jewel in 2022. "The stallion service agreement records Mr Pannell as 100 per cent owner of mare Aimee's Jewel," Mr Scown's affidavit read. The company's general manager detailed all the correspondence with Pannell, including preparations for the horse in the lead up to the sale and when the funds were dispersed. "Mr Pannell is recorded as the owner of the filly in all records held by Yarraman ...Yarraman sold the filly on 2 March in accordance with Mr Pannell's authority and direction," Mr Scown said. In Ms Wilke's affidavit, she said she had expressed shock over a transfer form for the horse which bared her signature which she did not sign. "This is the first time that I've seen that document ... I told him I didn't sign it. He told me he signed it on my behalf," she said. "In response to me saying I was worried about being charged under the freezing order, (Pannell) told me I couldn't be charged because I owned the filly." After hearing the plaintiff's evidence, Justice Watson asked Pannell if he wanted to reconsider his position or wished to proceed with cross-examining the witnesses. "I think I'll retract and change after hearing all that," Pannell answered. "You want to plead guilty to fifth charge of contempt now?" the judge asked. "Yes I will, your honour," the accused responded. The experienced umpire, who has presided over more than 200 AFL games, attracted attention after he awarded 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs in a 2016 match against the Adelaide Crows. Pannell will return to the court on Tuesday to learn of his penalty.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell pleads guilty but court rejects it as deeper secrets behind massive fraud emerge
(Image Source - Getty Images) 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo 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.' Also Read: La Liga: Days after 18th birthday, Lamine Yamal confirmed to wear Lionel Messi's iconic No 10 jersey 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. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Ex-AFL umpire admits to horse sale while assets frozen
A former AFL umpire who sold a racehorse he owned and gave his former partner $10,000 cash has admitted he breached a court-imposed freeze on his assets. Troy Pannell had previously pleaded guilty to four charges brought by his former company SeaRoad Shipping, relating to payments he had made while working there. Justice Andrew Watson had issued an order on Pannell to prevent him and his company Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors disposing of any goods unless he had assets worth more than $8.7 million. If he sold any of his holdings, those sales must not bring his worth under the amount. Pannell, who was self-represented, on Friday pleaded guilty to two charges of contempt after he handed $10,000 cash to his then partner and sold a racehorse which were in breach of his asset restrictions. The former AFL umpire had initially contested the horse sale charge, claiming in the Melbourne Supreme Court he was not the horse's owner so the sale was not a breach of the order. The plaintiff laid out his evidence, referring to the affidavits of two witnesses, including Matthew Scown, the general manager of Yarraman Park, a thoroughbred racehorse breeding company, and former partner Maree Wilke. Mr Scown said his company had entered into an agreement with Pannell for his horse Aimee's Jewel in 2022. "The stallion service agreement records Mr Pannell as 100 per cent owner of mare Aimee's Jewel," Mr Scown's affidavit read. The company's general manager detailed all the correspondence with Pannell, including preparations for the horse in the lead up to the sale and when the funds were dispersed. "Mr Pannell is recorded as the owner of the filly in all records held by Yarraman ...Yarraman sold the filly on 2 March in accordance with Mr Pannell's authority and direction," Mr Scown said. In Ms Wilke's affidavit, she said she had expressed shock over a transfer form for the horse which bared her signature which she did not sign. "This is the first time that I've seen that document ... I told him I didn't sign it. He told me he signed it on my behalf," she said. "In response to me saying I was worried about being charged under the freezing order, (Pannell) told me I couldn't be charged because I owned the filly." After hearing the plaintiff's evidence, Justice Watson asked Pannell if he wanted to reconsider his position or wished to proceed with cross-examining the witnesses. "I think I'll retract and change after hearing all that," Pannell answered. "You want to plead guilty to fifth charge of contempt now?" the judge asked. "Yes I will, your honour," the accused responded. The experienced umpire, who has presided over more than 200 AFL games, attracted attention after he awarded 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs in a 2016 match against the Adelaide Crows. Pannell will return to the court on Tuesday to learn of his penalty.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell admits selling racehorse after assets were frozen
Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell has pleaded guilty to illegally selling off his shares in a racehorse after freezing orders were imposed on his assets, amid separate claims he was behind a years long $8.7 million fraud scheme. Pannell, who until recently was on the run from police with several warrants out for his arrest, is being pursued by his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, after being accused of ripping the company off in a decade-long embezzlement saga. SeaRoad took civil action in the Supreme Court late last year alleging Pannell had defrauded the business via a fake-invoice scheme. The scheme allegedly involved Pannell generating invoices to pay a company named Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors Pty Ltd, of which Pannell was sole shareholder and director, to repair damaged shipping containers. SeaRoad alleges no work was done to repair the containers. Documents filed in the Supreme Court detail that Pannell has been accused of sending as many as 10,000 false invoices of about $800 for repairs to shipping containers On Friday, he faced the Supreme Court and pleaded guilty to contempt of court charges, including failure to comply with his obligation to make asset disclosure affidavits pursuant to a freezing order and selling shares in a racehorse, Aimee's Jewel, to a friend, Maree Wilke, while a freezing order was imposed. In early May freezing orders were also placed on Wilke's assets. Pannell, who represented himself, said during the hearing that he did not have $8.7 million in assets. The court also heard Pannell paid Wilke $10,000 to pay for her legal fees following the sale of the thoroughbred horse. He initially told the court he made the sale before freezing orders were imposed in December last year.
The Age
4 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell admits selling racehorse after assets were frozen
Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell has pleaded guilty to illegally selling off his shares in a racehorse after freezing orders were imposed on his assets, amid separate claims he was behind a years long $8.7 million fraud scheme. Pannell, who until recently was on the run from police with several warrants out for his arrest, is being pursued by his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, after being accused of ripping the company off in a decade-long embezzlement saga. SeaRoad took civil action in the Supreme Court late last year alleging Pannell had defrauded the business via a fake-invoice scheme. The scheme allegedly involved Pannell generating invoices to pay a company named Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors Pty Ltd, of which Pannell was sole shareholder and director, to repair damaged shipping containers. SeaRoad alleges no work was done to repair the containers. Documents filed in the Supreme Court detail that Pannell has been accused of sending as many as 10,000 false invoices of about $800 for repairs to shipping containers On Friday, he faced the Supreme Court and pleaded guilty to contempt of court charges, including failure to comply with his obligation to make asset disclosure affidavits pursuant to a freezing order and selling shares in a racehorse, Aimee's Jewel, to a friend, Maree Wilke, while a freezing order was imposed. In early May freezing orders were also placed on Wilke's assets. Pannell, who represented himself, said during the hearing that he did not have $8.7 million in assets. The court also heard Pannell paid Wilke $10,000 to pay for her legal fees following the sale of the thoroughbred horse. He initially told the court he made the sale before freezing orders were imposed in December last year.
