Search

Melbourne socialite swaps her designer wardrobe for prison greens - The Age

Loading

The one-time Telstra spokeswoman bought a Toorak home for $1.1 million, purchased the Portsea mansion Noorah for $7.5 million and paid $7.8 million for the historic Rosecraddock estate in Caulfield North.

She had the Caulfield North estate subdivided into seven properties, demolished the Toorak residence and built two apartments and had two additional homes built on the Portsea cliff-top.

All 10 properties were sold for a combined profit of more than $4 million, but no GST was paid by Semmens who also reneged on payments to tradesmen, suppliers, solicitors and lenders.

Her company Semco Developments Pty Ltd collapsed in 2010 with massive debts and a string of law suits.

Semmens' criminal conduct was first uncovered in 2011 during an audit by the Australian Taxation Office.

The Tax Office and Federal Police raided Semmens' Toorak home in 2013 and she was arrested while trying to board a flight to the US in 2015.

Simone Semmens shows of her home in Kooyong Road back in 2000.

Simone Semmens shows of her home in Kooyong Road back in 2000.Credit:Gerry Angelos

During the recent trial, Semmens' defence counsel Ashlee Cannon told the court his client was unaware she had to pay GST.

However, a jury took less than a day to find the 58-year-old guilty of 10 dishonesty offences that each carry a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Simone Semmens and one of her former properties, Edzell House, in Toorak

Simone Semmens and one of her former properties, Edzell House, in Toorak

Always immaculately dressed, Semmens appeared dismissive, almost resentful, that she was required to stand trial.

During a bail application in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2015, she claimed the charges had "hung over my head like a sword of Damocles," and insisted there had "clearly been a great deal of misunderstanding."

She vowed to "take this opportunity to clear my name, restore my reputation and get on with the rest of my life".

But in a further insult to taxpayers, The Age can reveal that Ms Semmens's legal team received funding from Victoria Legal Aid, despite her lavish lifestyle in the US which she has called home since 2014.

Semmens has lived in several luxury residences, including a $2.5 million mansion in the exclusive enclave of La Fayette, outside of San Francisco.

Using her married name Simone Halstead, she has worked for several years as a real estate agent in Santa Barbara, about 150 kilometres north of Los Angeles. Her online profile spruiks her integrity.

"Simone Halstead is a savvy, Santa Barbara real-estate professional. With years of experience on both the selling and buying sides of many, multi-million dollar transactions she works with dedication and integrity,'' according to her profile with US firm Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

The Montecito-based real estate business did not respond to requests for comment but several colleagues were unaware Semmens had returned to Melbourne to face criminal charges.

Acting executive director of legal practice at Victoria Legal Aid, Gayathri Paramasivam defended the decision to fund Ms Semmens' trial.

"In some instances, we fund or provide a lawyer for an accused person who appears to have enough money to pay for a lawyer themselves but there are several reasons why they might qualify for help under our guidelines," Ms Paramasivam said.

"Ms Semmens application for legal aid was decided on the basis of information provided by her legal representatives and in accordance with our guidelines," she said.

Most Viewed in National

Loading

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Read Again https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-socialite-swaps-her-designer-wardrobe-for-prison-greens-20190627-p521w4.html

Bagikan Berita Ini

0 Response to "Melbourne socialite swaps her designer wardrobe for prison greens - The Age"

Post a Comment

Powered by Blogger.