Conman Peter Foster granted bail after fraud charges

Notorious conman Peter Foster has been granted bail over his latest alleged scam despite his own lawyer admitting he could again do a runner.

Notorious conman Peter Foster has been granted bail over his latest alleged scam despite his own lawyer admitting he could again do a runner.

Foster, 59, has been behind bars since December after being extradited from a Victoria last December over an alleged $2 million Bitcoin fraud.

Foster successfully applied for bail in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday, despite strong police objections.

Defence barrister Russell Pearce, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, said it would be “churlish in the extreme” to suggest there was no risk that his client would not appear in court, saying Foster was a “self-described international man of mischief”.

“He is probably a man who has dined out at times on his notoriety,” Mr Pearce said.

A Media Watch segment of Foster being crash-tackled by cops on a Port Douglas beach in 2020 in a sting set up by private investigator Ken Gamble was played to the court.

Mr Pearce said Gamble had a ‘financial interest’ in the case and was using it to promote his own business.

Prosecutor Christopher Cook said Foster’s bail bid was “simply breathtaking”.

Peter Foster arriving at Brisbane Airport after being extradited to Queensland from Victoria last year. Picture: Liam Kidston

He said Foster had been convicted for dishonesty 11 times in four countries and three Australian states, had more than 20 aliases, used fake IDs and failed to appear in court in the

Mr Cook said Foster had removed a tracking bracelet and breached strict bail before the Bitcoin scam charges were dropped in NSW, and then fled to Victoria as Queenskand police re-charged him.

He said the evidence against Foster was strong and he would face significant jail time if convicted.

Foster was a “significant risk” of failing to appear, interfering with witnesses or obstructing the course of justice, Mr Cook said.

Magistrate Janice Crawford granted Foster bail on condition he live with his sister at Mt Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinterland, wear a tracking device, surrender his passport, not approach any airport, and report three times a week to police.

Speaking outside court, Foster’s lawyer Chris Hannay said his client had spent about 12 months in jail “for nothing” and deserved bail.

“He’s obviously happy and we’re happy for him,” he said.

“It’s going to give him an opportunity to prepare his case and get on with life.”

Asked if Foster would be defending the charges, Mr Hannay said: “Absolutely – no issue with that whatsoever.”

When asked if he was sure Foster would appear in court when required, Mr Hannay said: “No one could say he would reappear … or anyone else for that matter.”

He said it was not clear if Foster was going to slow down.

“He has a bad hip, bad legs, bad knees so who knows,” Mr Hannay said.

“At the moment he is free.”

Foster was to be released from Arthur Gorrie Correction Centre on Friday afternoon.

The case was adjourned until June 16.