Oliver Curtis insider trading trial: Former mate John Hartman denies he lied to his accountant

THE star witness in the case of accused insider trader Oliver Curtis has been accused of lying about details he gave to his accountant of a bonus he received.

Oliver Curtis arrives at court today with his wife Roxy Jacenko. Picture: Ross Schultz

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THE star witness in the case of accused insider trader Oliver Curtis has been accused of lying about details he gave to his accountant of a bonus he received.

John Joseph Hartman — who received a 10 per cent discount on his sentence to give evidence against his former best friend Curtis — today finished his evidence after three days in the stand.

Curtis’ wife, glamorous publicist Roxy Jacenko — dressed in a bold pink and black dress — watched on from the public gallery as Hartman was further cross examined by her husband’s barrister, Murugan Thangaraj SC.

Oliver Curtis and wife Roxy Jacenko hold hands as they arrive at court today. Picture: Ross Schultz

Curtis, 30, has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to commit insider trading with equity trader Hartman between May 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008.

The jury has been told this week of the elaborate lifestyle enjoyed by the pair, including expensive vehicles, overseas holidays and renting a $3000 a week Bondi apartment.

It has been alleged that Curtis traded 45 times using tips from Hartman, who worked at investment fund Orion Asset Management.

Mr Thangaraj put it to Hartman that he gave false information to his accountant in order to gain a tax benefit refund.

Curtis’ former mate John Hartman finished giving evidence today. Picture: Ross Schultz

The jury heard Hartman received an $100,000 bonus from his former employer in 2008, and that in his 2009 tax return he listed a gross income of $278,000, which included a bonus.

Mr Thangaraj suggested to Hartman the money was not “clean”, because he had been manipulating the numbers.

“I didn’t lie to my accountant,” Hartman said.

“Your lies in relation to your self interest continued into 2010 [the year Hartman was convicted and sentenced],” Mr Thangaraj suggested.

“No, the money was paid legitimately by Orion to me,” Hartman replied.

During re-examination, Crown prosecutor David Staehli SC questioned Hartman about the decision by the pair to move into the Bondi apartment, and Curtis’ relationship with a previous girlfriend.

“We moved into it in February 2008, we’d been looking at two different apartments together before we moved into Bondi,” Hartman said.

“That started before we went overseas, because I was still living at home, as was he, and we wanted to move out together.”

Mr Staehli asked him if he had been aware that Curtis’ then girlfriend was going to be also moving into the place to share a room with him.

“She was part of the package of moving in with Olly,” Hartman replied.

Hartman, 30, has now been excused from the trial, which continues on Monday before Justice Lucy McCallum.