Ex-public servant Paul Andrew Robinson blames former co-accused Matthew Laurie Patzel, who is not charged, for fraud
A former senior Corrections staffer has taken responsibility in court for a ‘multifaceted’ fraud – but after months in a cell, he’s pointing the finger at another man who had his charges dropped.
A senior public servant who pleaded guilty to stealing $300,000 in a prison cell rort has “pointed the finger of blame” at a man against whom all charges were dropped, a court has heard.
On Tuesday, the District Court was told Paul Andrew Robinson now sought to blame his former co-accused, Matthew Laurie Patzel, for his crimes.
It also heard that, after two months in the custody of his former workplace, the ex-Department for Correctional Services worker wanted a home detention sentence.
Marie Shaw KC, for Robinson, asked the court for further time to take instructions from her client, saying “some matters have arisen” since his confession.
Ryan Williams SC, prosecuting, questioned the basis for that request, given Robinson had finally admitted his wrongdoing after four years of closed-court hearings.
“The ‘matters’ appear to be motive and the role of others named in the case,” he said.
“The finger of blame is being pointed (by Robinson) fairly and squarely at Mr Patzel as the primary antagonist … that stands in relatively stark contrast, to the prosecution (case).
“If it’s to be argued that this is all Mr Patzel’s fault, that’s something the defence bears the onus of establishing.”
On the first day of his trial in July, Robinson, 46, of Seaton, pleaded guilty to three counts of abuse of public office, which netted him $297,000.
The court has previously heard he used his insider knowledge to “mastermind” the 2018/2019 Yatala Labour Prison redevelopment tender process to benefit himself.
However, it has yet to hear what motivated Robinson to embark upon what prosecutors have called a “multifaceted, multidimensional and persistent” course of fraud.
Mr Patzel, a Mount Gambier-based plasterer, was initially jointly charged with Robinson but those allegations were dropped after he had pleaded not guilty to the same charge and prior to trial.
The Advertiser understands the state government intends to pursue a civil damages claim against Mr Patzel.
On Tuesday, Ms Shaw said Robinson had originally been charged with 22 offences but, in a plea bargain deal, had pleaded guilty to three counts.
It would be “unfair” to him, she argued, to have to “unravel” the full prosecution case and establish which facts related to which count.
She asked the court order a home detention sentencing report, as she would be submitting that as an appropriate penalty for the offending.
Mr Williams said the bargain was brokered on the understanding Robinson was pleading guilty to “the full facts”, and so they should form the basis for sentencing.
Judge Ian White ordered the home detention report and remanded Robinson in custody to a further hearing next week.
