Forum Finance director Vincenzo Tesoriero wants to strike out Westpac’s claims against him and has told a court he too is a victim of alleged fraudster Bill Papas, having sunk up to $9 million in the company.
The Federal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Forum Finance founder Bill Papas for contempt of court for allegedly transferring $720,000 out of one of his companies in breach of a freezing order.
Westpac will serve court documents, including a motion for contempt, on Forum founder Bill Papas by text message after securing a Greek mobile number for the absent accused fraudster, as the judge overseeing the bank’s case pulled up Papas’ former lawyer for treating his courtroom like a “suburban golf club”.
Westpac wants Forum Finance founder Bill Papas held in contempt of court, but the bank has hit a snag in serving its motion on the missing Papas, saying he dropped his lawyers without telling them the address of his current residence in Greece.
Oil and gas producer Santos has successfully challenged the summary dismissal of its claim for recovery of more than $470 million paid to contractor Fluor Corporation in overhead costs incurred after the estimated completion date of gas hubs in the Surat Basin.
A Forum Finance director is unable to file a defence against Westpacās $400 million fraud case because his former solicitor has refused to hand over case files to his new lawyers until he pays a āremarkableā $300,000 legal bill, a court has heard.
The NSW Court of Appeal has refused to grant Bianca Rinehart leave to appeal a decision staying a lawsuit against her mother Gina Rinehart over ownership of a $4 billion family trust.
The NSW Police have commenced an investigation into Forum Finance and director Bill Papas, which have been accused by Westpac, French investment bank Societe Generale and Japanese bank SMBC of a $400 million fraud.
Merck Sharp & Dohme is seeking to overturn a judgment refusing an extension of a patent covering its Januvia and Janumet diabetes drugs that would have seen the US drug maker of retaining a monopoly over the multibillion dollar medicines beyond July 2022.
Liquidators for Forum Finance have won court approval to sell a $1.2 million Mangusta luxury yacht as well as 12 properties owned by various companies within the Forum Group.