Westpac

Bill Papas’ business partner Vince Tesoriero has won the release of $1.25 million to pay for his legal fees in Westpac’s fraud case against him, despite a judge’s finding that disclosure concerning his true financial position was “less than ideal” and included “staggering” discrepancies.

A judge has told Forum Finance director Vince Tesoriero to “revisit” evidence about his true financial position if he wants to win the release of $1.25 million to pay for his defence in Westpac’s fraud case against him, amid concerns about whether he has made full disclosure to the court.

The law firm that lost the first ever application for a group costs order in class actions against ANZ and Westpac has indicated it will revive its bid, tweaking a retainer agreement with group members in hopes of winning the court’s approval this time.

Bill Papas’ girlfriend Louise Agostino has hit back at Westpac’s lawsuit accusing her of involvement in the Forum Group director’s alleged $294 million fraud, denying all allegations and arguing that the bulk of the bank’s claims against her should be struck out.

A judge on Friday slugged Westpac with a $40 million penalty for charging advice fees to over 11,800 dead customers in the last of six cases brought by the corporate regulator, taking the total to be paid by the bank to $113 million.

A judge has approved $32 million in penalties against Westpac in two cases brought by the corporate regulator accusing the bank of misleading thousands of “vulnerable” customers about their debts and failing to manage the accounts of deregistered companies.

A lawyer for Forum Finance director Bill Papas has argued the alleged fraudster should be able to shield documents held by his former lawyer under a claim for legal professional privilege despite being a “fugitive” from contempt charges.

A judge has hit Westpac with a $1.5 million penalty for misleading 141 customers into believing they had purchased add-on insurance.

Westpac has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle proceedings brought by ASIC for misleading 141 customers into believing they had purchased add-on insurance.

The founder of whitegoods distributor Kleenmaid, who won a retrial after being sentenced to nine years for fraud and insolvent trading, will not spend any more time in jail after being resentenced by a judge who called him “a man of greed”.