Footy fraudster Lindsay Bassani asks court to cease home detention GPS tracking, saying it creates a stigma while he is playing
EXCLUSIVE: A footballer who was allowed to serve his $9000 fraud sentence on home detention wants a court to remove his tracking bracelet because it creates “a stigma” while he is on the field.
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A FOOTBALLER who is serving his $9000 fraud sentence on home detention wants a court to remove his tracking bracelet because it creates “a stigma” while he is on the field.
Just two weeks after being sentenced, Lindsay Bassani has challenged the state’s new home detention program, saying it hinders his ability to support his family by playing sport.
Bassani’s complaint has now sparked an Adelaide Magistrates Court investigation into whether the program can actually work as legislated by the Weatherill Government.
Yesterday, prosecutors told the court they believed the Department for Correctional Services may lack both the ability and the resources to monitor home detainees.
Magistrate Ian White called for a report – but told Bassani any alteration to his sentence would be entirely unrelated to his claims of embarrassment.
“You are still serving a sentence of imprisonment and this is a byproduct,” he said.
“I’m prepared to order a further report ... and we will see what the Department’s attitude is toward electronic monitoring.”
Bassani, 38, of Semaphore, is the former head of the SA Aboriginal Sports Training Academy and a former Echunga football coach.
He admitted that, between 2012 and 2014, he abused public office and committed fraud by unlawfully buying goods including a refrigerator, TV and solar panels worth $9347.
Two weeks ago he was jailed for 14 months, with a six-month non-parole period, and permitted to serve that sentence on home detention.
Because home detainees can continue to work, and Bassani owns a 24-hour gym, he is legally allowed to leave his house at any time.
Yesterday, prosecutor Lisa Duong said Bassani had since filed a three-pronged complaint about his home detention conditions, claiming he:
SHOULD not be electronically monitored because he “perceived a stigma” from other players on the football field.
WAS being forced to observe a curfew, despite his 24-hour business.
WAS required to seek exemption passes to play football, despite being paid to do so and the games therefore constituting employment.
The court was not told which team Bassani plays for, nor how much he is paid per game.
Ms Duong asked the court to investigate how the program operated, which would allow the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider its position on the matter.
“My understanding is that, from an operational perspective, the program may not be capable of operating unless there’s a degree of consent (being granted to offenders),” she said.
“It uses the structure of home detention bail as a model where, for example, a person is required to obtain permission before leaving their house.
“Otherwise, people could tell officers they were going to work, and the officers would have no way to check that.”
Mr White said he had crafted Bassani’s home detention sentence “the way Parliament intended” based on the legislation, and agreed the issues should be clarified.
He ordered a report and remanded Bassani under his existing conditions until next week.