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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
AFL umpire is caught out telling a stunning lie about his mother after dodging court AGAIN for allegedly masterminding $8.7million scam
Proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria have escalated against former AFL umpire Troy Pannell, who faces serious allegations of civil fraud totalling $8.7million. The court was again forced to issue an arrest warrant after Pannell failed to appear for a scheduled hearing on Friday, marking his second absence in relation to the case brought by his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping. Justice Andrew Watson, presiding over the matter, noted with concern the repeat non-appearance and authorised the warrant late Friday. That same evening, Pannell was involved in a serious single-vehicle crash in western Victoria, reportedly colliding with a tree. He remains in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery. Police had been monitoring Pannell's movements amid suspicions he had been in South Australia, potentially to avoid court proceedings, and there are fears he may attempt to flee overseas. Pannell stands accused of orchestrating a prolonged scheme involving a company called Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors (ICSA). SeaRoad Shipping alleges the entity was used to generate thousands of fake invoices for container repair services that were never provided between 2015 and 2024. Court documents tendered state Pannell had sole authority over the approval of purchase orders, and used this position to process fraudulent payments to ICSA. In evidence tendered to the court, SeaRoad's legal team referred to numerous emails and financial documents suggesting Pannell was under financial pressure in the months leading up to the revelations. These included an email sent to his wife, Lynise Woodgate, in October 2023, with the subject line 'Love U,' in which he apologised, stating: 'I'm so sorry for everything… I would not feel the way I do today.' Further documents tendered showed Pannell and Ms Woodgate applied to extend their $100,000 home loan with Westpac in January 2024, submitting a breakdown of living expenses and personal financial details. Among the documents were statements relating to their family home, purchased in 2016 for $810,000 with an estimated $600,000 still owed, and an investment property in St Kilda generating rental income. It is not suggested that Ms Woodgate was involved in any of the alleged fraudulent conduct. In statements to investigators, she said the pair are now estranged and that she had no knowledge of the transactions under investigation. In a bizarre twist, court documents tendered reveal that Pannell previously told SeaRoad that his mother had passed away. However, ABC Investigations confirmed that Mrs Pannell answered the phone at her Werribee home this week, very much alive. Previous excuses provided by Pannell for failing to attend court have included striking a kangaroo with his vehicle. An email sent to court staff on May 9, just 35 minutes after a scheduled appearance, claimed the collision had damaged his windscreen and indicator, and he was awaiting roadside assistance. Police are now liaising with federal agencies, and SeaRoad's legal counsel, Mr Jonathan B. Davis KC, has called for Pannell to be added to the Australian Federal Police watchlist. 'Instead of going interstate, Mr Pannell could be in Bogota,' Mr Davis told the court. Emails found on a work-issued laptop also revealed that Mr Pannell had been preparing to sell two café businesses: Duck Duck Goose and Larder in Kyneton, and Common Galaxia in Seddon. A sales brochure prepared by Paramount Business Brokers was submitted to the court as part of the evidence. Pannell, who officiated 219 AFL matches between 2005 and 2018, previously served as president of the AFL Umpires' Association. The court adjourned the matter pending Pannell's medical recovery and execution of the arrest warrant. Further proceedings will determine the extent of civil liability and whether criminal charges may follow.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
AFL umpire Troy Pannell comes up with a BIZARRE reason for setting off manhunt over accusations he masterminded an $8.7million scam
Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell has blamed a kangaroo for his failure to appear at a court hearing into accusations he stole $8.7million from his former employer. The ex-match official allegedly defrauded the Melbourne-based SeaRoad Shipping business by setting up a fake company that falsely claimed it was carrying out work. New text messages and emails suggest Pannell may be in northern Victoria or Queensland - while others have claimed he may have fled to New Zealand after an arrest warrant was issued for him. On May 9, Pannell reportedly told solicitors for SeaRoad Shipping on that he wouldn't be at court because he'd hit a kangaroo with his car. He sent the email 35 minutes after he was supposed to arrive for the hearing. 'Mr Pannell sent an email to the solicitor for the plaintiff, stating that his car had been swiped by a large kangaroo on his way to court, that he had no working indicator left and that his windscreen had a crack through it,' court documents state. 'He said he was waiting for roadside assistance and that this was his reason for non‑attendance.' Last Tuesday, Jonathan B. Davis KC, acting for SeaRoad, told the Victorian Supreme court he believed Pannell was in South Australia but could flee the country, and asked for him to be added to the Federal Police watchlist. Davis said doing so would 'save us from coming back and saying that we've missed an opportunity and instead of going interstate Mr Pannell is in Bogota or similar', News Corp reported, adding that an arrest warrant is set to be issued. Court documents contain claims that Pannell created the Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors company, which invoiced SeaRoad for $8.7million between 2015 and 2024. The invoices were allegedly lodged for repair work to containers that was never carried out. The documents claim that the alleged fraud was discovered when a finance manager at SeaRoad conducted a compliance review and found the firm was not registered for GST. SeaRoad sent Pannell a letter last October accusing him of 'serious misconduct', with the correspondence tendered in a civil court case. Pannell officiated 219 AFL matches from 2005 to 2018. He made headlines in May 2016 when he paid 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs and just one to their opponents, the Adelaide Crows. Then-umpires boss Hayden Kennedy said the lopsided count resulted in 'hysteria' among fans and footy experts. 'I tend to laugh about it a little bit. It makes it a little bit easier,' Pannell said of the furore at the time. He got into umpiring through the Footscray and District League after playing footy for Hoppers Crossing.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
AFL umpire Troy Pannell goes on the run from the law after allegedly masterminding $8.7million scam
Lawyers have asked the Federal Police to start hunting down former AFL umpire Troy Pannell after he failed to appear at a court hearing into accusations he stole $8.7million from his former employer. The ex-match official allegedly defrauded the Melbourne-based SeaRoad Shipping business by setting up a fake company that falsely claimed it was carrying out work. On Tuesday, Jonathan B. Davis KC, acting for SeaRoad, told the Victorian Supreme court he believed Pannell was in South Australia but could flee the country, and asked for him to be added to the Federal Police watchlist. Davis said doing so would 'save us from coming back and saying that we've missed an opportunity and instead of going interstate Mr Pannell is in Bogota or similar', News Corp reported, adding that an arrest warrant is set to be issued. Court documents contain claims that Pannell created the Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors company, which invoiced SeaRoad for $8.7million between 2015 and 2024. The invoices were allegedly lodged for repair work to containers that was never carried out. The documents claim that the alleged fraud was discovered when a finance manager at SeaRoad conducted a compliance review and found the firm was not registered for GST. SeaRoad sent Pannell a letter last October accusing him of 'serious misconduct', with the correspondence tendered in a civil court case. Pannell officiated 219 AFL matches from 2005 to 2018. He made headlines in May 2016 when he paid 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs and just one to their opponents, the Adelaide Crows. Then-umpires boss Hayden Kennedy said the lopsided count resulted in 'hysteria' among fans and footy experts. 'I tend to laugh about it a little bit. It makes it a little bit easier,' Pannell said of the furore at the time. He got into umpiring through the Footscray and District League after playing footy for Hoppers Crossing.
