Bankrupt ex-winemaker Andrew Morton Garrett ordered to face SA court in person after legal aid funding refused for tax fraud case
Bankrupt ex-winemaker and serial litigant Andrew Morton Garrett has denied fleecing $6 million from the taxman — but has been refused legal aid to defend himself at trial.
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- Andrew Garrett back in SA’s courts on Commonwealth charges
- ‘The six million dollar scam’: Garrett accused of fleecing taxman
- Funding squeeze for ‘fraud’ bankrupt, ex-winemaker Garrett
Bankrupt ex-winemaker and serial litigant Andrew Morton Garrett has denied fleecing $6 million from the taxman — but has been refused legal aid to defend himself at trial.
On Friday, Garrett found himself suddenly self-represented when his counsel declined to further handle his case.
They told the District Court they had tried to resolve “funding issues” — first mooted in October — before the hearing, but to no avail.
“Since that time, we have been advised by the Legal Services Commission that there will be no funding for this matter,” they said.
“Garrett has been advised that he needs to find alternative legal representation.”
Garrett, 61, of Hobart, has pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage.
It is alleged that, in June and July 2017, he used his business — Oenoviva Australia/New Zealand Property Trust — to lodge false information.
He allegedly falsely claimed GST tax credits worth $6 million to which Oenoviva was not entitled.
The company, based on creating “urban wineries” where vintages made from the “finest” blast-frozen grapes are drunk on site, is Garrett’s latest business venture.
He was a household name in the early 2000s thanks to his signature sparking shiraz, but his fortunes came undone through bankruptcy, lawsuits and sex-pest allegations.
On Friday, Judge Michael Boylan noted Garrett had been excused from attending court, but said that had to change now he was no longer represented by counsel.
He ordered Garrett face court in person next week.
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