Former Kimberley College principal Paul Thomson charged with fraud
Former Kimberley College principal Paul Thomson has been granted bail after after facing court in Brisbane this afternoon on multiple fraud charges, but not before an interjection from his high-profile barrister.
Crime & Justice
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crime & Justice. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FORMER Kimberley College principal Paul Thomson has been given bail after facing Brisbane Magistrates Court this afternoon on multiple fraud charges.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Josh Kelly said told the court there were hundreds of thousands of dollars used for personal use that did not benefit Kimberley College.
Police allege there were 33 individual transactions, at a total of more than $500,000 that were to the benefit of Thomson and his wife.
“Those transactions were not authorised by the board of the Kimberley College,” he said.
Sgt Kelly said Thomson also had possession of a college credit card in which $197,000 was spent which could not be attributed to the use of benefit of the college, in addition to $150,009 spent on a trip to Finland and the UK in 2016 and a trip to China that was partially organised by Thomson which was just over $60,000.
“In 2018, the defendant part organised a trip to Dubai, Spain and Sweden.”
Over $100,000 is also alleged to have been spent on a cruise as well as the purchase of a D’Arcy Doyle painting worth over $11,000 which was found through eBay transactions on Amy Ferguson’s phone seized by police.
Thomson’s barrister Tony Morris QC, described the charges as “utterly outrageous” and said they were brought about by a school that “had an axe to grind” with his client.
Thomson, his daughter Amy Ferguson and her husband Kevin Ferguson were this morning charged “with a series of significant fraud charges relating to their previous involvement in the financial management” of the school.
The three were arrested in Carbrook and taken to Brisbane City Watch House about 9am.
Earlier today, police said the charges related to an alleged scheme that saw a total of $4.6 million embezzled from the college by the group.
None of that has been recovered, and was mostly spent on “luxury overseas travel”, police say.
During their investigation, police contacted 15 banks and asked them to pull records for the group that were up to a decade old.
Detective Acting Superintendent Vince Byrnes described the alleged offences as a major breach of trust.
“Educational institutions are a pillar of our society and it’s concerning that the alleged offending in this regard involved persons in a position of trust.
“For us, these matters are very important, in that they strike at the heart of the community.”
The Courier-Mail last year revealed serious concerns about the school’s finances and allegations of nepotism.
The charges mark the closure of Operation Quebec Consignment, which was established following a referral from the Department of Education in August 2018, and focused on four former senior staff and their involvement in the financial dealings of the college between 2012 and 2018.
“Given the serious nature of a number of the allegations, the matter was investigated by a team of investigators from the Major Fraud Investigation Unit within the Financial and Cyber Crime Group,” Acting Superintendent Byrnes of the Financial and Cyber Crimes Group said.
“It was a complex investigation and involved the detailed and lengthy analysis of financial documentation and banking records.
“The nature of the alleged offending is very concerning as it involves persons who were then acting in a position of trust.
“It is important to stress that this investigation focused on four former employees of the college.”
Paul Thomson, 75, has been charged with fraud, dishonestly causing detriment as an employee where the detriment is greater than $100,000.
He has also been conjointly charged with Ms Ferguson for one charge of extortion and computer hacking and conjointly with Mr Ferguson, 34 with one count of fraud, dishonest application of property of another greater than $100,000.
Ms Ferguson, 35, has been charged with fraud, dishonestly causing detriment as an employee where the detriment is greater than $100,000, perjury, and computer hacking.
She has been conjointly charged with Mr Ferguson on one count of fraud, dishonestly gaining benefit or advantage as an employee where the yield is greater than $100,000 .
A 66-year-old woman has been charged with fraud, dishonestly causing a detriment as an employee where the detriment is greater than $100,000.
Paul, Amy, Kevin and Paul’s wife Jennifer Thomson were sacked in June last year.
The family has previously denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations over the school’s finances and allegations of nepotism.
They were expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning.
The 66-year-old woman was issued a Notice to Appear and is expected to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court in the coming weeks.
‘You’ve lost two licences, and you’re only a learner’
A learner driver copped an earful from an Ipswich magistrate over his astonishing accumulation of demerit points.
‘Night beautiful’: Mum accused of attempted murder
A mum accused of trying to murder her four-year-old daughter - by 'gassing' her in a car - has been sentenced for breaching her bail conditions by spending time with the girl.