Former Echunga football coach and Aboriginal mentor Lindsay Bassani broke law to help troubled teens, lawyer tells court
AN acclaimed football coach and “father figure” to disadvantaged Aboriginal youth broke the law and ruined his career because he “could not say no” to helping those he mentored, an Adelaide court has heard.
AN acclaimed football coach and “father figure” to disadvantaged Aboriginal youth broke the law and ruined his career because he “could not say no” to helping those he mentored, an Adelaide court has heard.
Lindsay Raymond Bassani was the premiership coach of the Echunga Football Club and ran an Education Department program to assist disadvantaged Aboriginal youths when he bought goods worth $9347 using Education Department funds. He has since repaid the money.
Bassani, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts of abuse of public office to secure a benefit and two counts of dishonestly dealing with documents when he was in charge of the SA Aboriginal Sports Training Academy between December 2012 and May 2014.
Although Bassani admitted breaking the law by using program funds to buy items such as a television, refrigerator and washing machine and sports singlets, his lawyer Marie Shaw QC said his offending was borne out of his passion for the program rather than any criminal intent.
“He realises that he — as he put it — crossed the line in terms of his management of this program ... there have been many people who have been the beneficiaries of his goodwill,” Mrs Shaw said.
“His personality means that he is overly generous with his time and resources ... simply put, he could not say no, he went overboard.”
The court heard Bassani worked seven days a week and went “above and beyond” his role by picking up indigenous teenagers and taking them to football at Echunga, and provided shelter, food and clothing to students in his own home.
Mrs Shaw said the “public shaming” Bassani had encountered had led to threats and vandalism attacks on his home, as well as him losing his previously exemplary reputation in the community and his job as Echunga coach.
She said the only charge that did not involve the program was the purchase of solar panels for his home, which he said he planned to repay when he was paid for his football coaching.
The court heard a washing machine, television and refrigerator bought without proper authorisation were to be used in a new drop-in centre at the school, because Bassani and his wife were expecting a baby and could no longer have the teenagers stay at their home.
Another count involved the purchase of football training singlets for the teens in the program and a reversing camera that he attached to his wife’s car, which he used to drive the boys to and from football training.
Magistrate Ian White said it was clear from the numerous reference letters — including former students — that Bassani had made a great contribution to disadvantaged youth and the town of Echunga.
“His general work in a country town like Echunga where football is a very important part of the fabric of life has obviously made it a centrepiece and a proud one for the town,” Mr White said.
“The great tragedy of all of this is that if he had approached the club and said “I need money for a camera and singlets”, the club probably would have written a cheque or found the money, such was their respect for him and the work he did.”
Mrs Shaw urged Mr White to suspend any prison term. However, prosecutors said he should be jailed to send a message to other public servants.
Bassani, who was the subject of an ICAC inquiry before being charged, was remanded on continuing bail ahead of sentencing in September.