Husband Sean Black says he doesn't know where fugitive Logan City councillor Hajnal Ban is hiding
TOGETHER they bring home more than $200,000 of ratepayers' money every year, but the husband of fugitive councillor Hajnal Black says they're under "extreme finical (sic) pressure".
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TOGETHER they bring home more than $200,000 of ratepayers' money every year, but the husband of fugitive councillor Hajnal Black says they're under "extreme finical (sic) pressure".
The couple even have a web link for people to donate to "Sean and Hajnal" on their blog via PayPal, despite having several substantial properties, unrestricted access to two Logan City Council cars, mobile phones and other administrative perks.
In a teary statement to the media yesterday, Mr Black said they had run out of money because of ongoing legal battles, most notably Ms Black's defence of claims she mismanaged a dementia patient's funds.
"The trash journalism of The Courier-Mail would have us all believe that the case could be summed up in a three-line paragraph ... guess what, this case is complex," he said.
"Normally a person with cases like these all at once would have a senior barrister, and junior barrister, a solicitor and the solicitor's office to prepare everything. We have run out of money and now must do all the work ourselves, with limited experience.
"Such a huge, massive workload is taking a toll on how Hajnal feels emotionally and physically and I feel as though no latitude to our situation has been provided by the courts, but that is a subject of appeal."
Ms Black, a former barrister, is appealing a Supreme Court ruling she mishandled $1.37 million from the estate of a sick, elderly man over whom she held power of attorney.
She also counter-claimed she was gifted property by the same man and that is yet to go to trial.
The 34-year-old, famous for having cosmetic surgery to lengthen her legs as a young woman, had an arrest warrant issued against her on Friday after she stormed out of Beenleigh Magistrate's Court midway through a hearing into whether she failed to declare a pecuniary interest while in public office.
Mr Black said yesterday he was also "extremely worried" about his wife and had no idea where she was, but police say she has not been formally reported missing.
"Mrs Hajnal Black has not been reported as a missing person and there have been no indications or mention of any fears for her safety," the Queensland Police Service said in a statement.
Mr Black said his wife had contacted him via email on Wednesday but it was "the only point of contact" he had with her and she would not reveal her location.
"Hajnal is human, like you and I," he said.
"These matters have really put pressure on our family and our marriage. We want to have a baby, but every month we want to start there is a new Labor Government-initiated courtroom drama or obstacle that life throws in our way."
Former Logan councillor and Katter's Australian Party Queensland leader Aidan McLindon said he hadn't had much to do with the Blacks since being struck off the invite list to their 2010 wedding after defecting from the LNP, but hoped she was safe.
"It's out of character - when I knew her she was never afraid of confrontation and never one to back away from a fight," he said of Mrs Black, who at the time was the LNP candidate for Wright before being disendorsed.
"It's (politics) a tough game and I understand she'd be feeling a lot of pressure now, but she's just got to face her fears and put this chapter behind her. She should turn herself in for her family's and friends' sake, who would be worried about her."
Those who did attend the Black wedding included Senator Barnaby Joyce who referred to Sean as "the luckiest man in southeast Queensland".
Mr Black maintained his wife sought to present herself to the Brisbane Court of Appeal urgently.
"I know Hajnal is worn down, yes, but she is a strong woman, of very high ethics who, before this matter, has maintained a good reputation and was held in high regard in her community," he said.
"Give Hajnal a break for goodness sake."