Another Celebrity - Another Let Off

[Metal Head]

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...016681,00.html

Who said crime doesn't pay especially if your a celebrity.

[Lignin]

OK, she got a sweet deal, but it isn't her fault.
The presiding magistrate is notorious for excessively lenient, or severe, sentences.
Maybe she should be pensioned off!!!

[watson]

Let Ye who is without sin, cast the first stone....or some such.

[bsrlee]

Yep, the magistrate is a well known 'colourful identity' who is well known for cheerful disregard of the facts. I don't know what hold she has on the Government other than her 'ethnicity' but they really need to remove her from the bench.

[Lignin]

Neatly expressed, brslee.I was wondering how to get that accross!!
All you forgot was that she has appeared in her own court!!

[Ruddigar]

Who said crime doesn't pay especially if your a celebrity.

I believe that she noticed the discrepency and repaid Centrelink, and then they decided to charge her.

Why should she be punished for their error?

[Metal Head]

I believe that she noticed the discrepency and repaid Centrelink, and then they decided to charge her.

Why should she be punished for their error?

Ruddigar - You obviously didn't read this bit

The 39-year-old had previously entered a guilty plea to 23 counts relating to welfare fraud of the single parent payment. Rochester was ashamed of her behaviour and had since done everything in her power to make up for the fraud, her legal counsel Robert Bromwich said yesterday in making an application that no conviction be recorded for the offences.

Personally I am sick of hearing about people getting special treatment for their crimes because they are celebrities. They should think (as we do) about the consequences of their actions BEFORE committing the crime. Remember she committed FRAUD thus enabling her to steal OUR hard earned money - taxpayer money. If she hadn't committed fraud she wouldn't be in the position she found herself in!!. In other words she brought it all on herself.

Btw Mr Watson, I have never been in trouble with any authorities for anything (criminal etc). So I do qualify to cast the first stone

[Pheonix]

Yeah but they got all the money back,not like Mr A Bond etc

[dj_pnevans]

I know some one who did the same thing many years ago and the same thing happened to them and he was no celb.
David

[Sturdee]

Btw Mr Watson, I have never been in trouble with any authorities for anything (criminal etc). So I do qualify to cast the first stone

Yes, if you have never, ever broken any laws (including all traffic laws) you may cast the first stone.


Peter.

[dazzler]

In actual fact her celebrity may well have gone against her in her being charged in the first place. For such a small amount (by comparison to most) she would have had to pay it back and maybe sanctioned by centrelink for future payments. The degree of criminality is not huge - no false identities etc....

I charged a women for $170,000.00 worth and she got 2months.....

Single mother with a child...small fraud......they wouldnt send her away.

[Metal Head]

Yes, if you have never, ever broken any laws (including all traffic laws) you may cast the first stone.

Peter.

OK I've had one speeding fine and one parking fine in 20 years here in Australia. Not as bad as the laws I broke in the UK that must have helped to get me here.

MH