Adam Magill fraud case delayed because Brisbane lawyer prevented from meeting with Sydney-based solicitor
A Brisbane lawyer facing charges of aggravated fraud, fraudulent falsification of records and aggravated money laundering brought by the State’s corruption watchdog has had his case delayed because he has been unable to meet with his solicitor, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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DISGRACED criminal lawyer Adam Magill’s fraud case has been delayed due to Queensland’s border closures, which stopped him meeting with his Sydney-based lawyers, a court has heard.
Magill, 47, a former police officer, is facing charges of aggravated fraud, fraudulent falsification of records and aggravated money laundering, which were brought by the State’s corruption watchdog after an 18-month investigation into criminal law firm Lawler Magill.
The Crime and Corruption Commission has alleged Magill was taking cash payments from clients without lodging them through his firm’s trust accounts and in some cases, doubling up with Legal Aid funding.
Magill denies the allegations.
During an application in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today, the court heard the man’s solicitor and barrister were Sydney-based and he had been unable to meet with them due to COVID-19 border closures.
The court heard Magill’s solicitor, Ahmed Dib, wished to extent the time for filing documents, which were due on a Friday.
“Because of the size of the brief, it is not unreasonable to want to sit down and go through things in person,” Magistrate Janelle Brassington said.
The date for filing the documents was extended and the matter will return to court on August 31.
Magill has been stopped from working is a solicitor after having his legal practising certificate cancelled in December last year.
On August 1, 2019, Adam Magill was fined a total of $9600 for breaching his bail five times, with two convictions recorded against him, after pleading guilty to the offences.
He appealed the sentences given for breaches of bail conditions, claiming they were “excessive’’.
Co-accused men Lam Quoc Ta, Cuong Quoc Ta and Piet “Bruce” Luan Ta had their matter’s adjourned to various dates later this year.
The court heard Cuong Quoc Ta is alleged to have created false payslips for other parties.
He has been charged as a party to the fraud offences but not money laundering.
Crown prosecutor Sarah Farnden today said it is alleged Ta created the payslips with the “knowledge” they would be used for a Legal Aid applications.