Former Gungahlin United Football Club boss Aaron David Alexander refused bail over alleged fraud
The former boss of one of Australia’s largest soccer clubs is being held on remand accused of using club money to fund his Land Rover lease and parking tickets.
Canberra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Canberra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Father of three jailed for sex with teen girl in seedy motel room
- Canberra public servant raped intellectually disabled women
- Bowral High School teacher denies sex attack on student
The self-styled financial saviour of one of Australia’s largest soccer clubs is now behind bars accused of lining his own pockets with more than $100,000 of club money.
Aaron David Alexander, 48, the former president of the Gungahlin United Football Club, in Canberra’s northern suburbs, was refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday following his first night in the police lockup.
Alexander faces 108 counts of obtaining benefit by deception, and is accused of defrauding the club of $112,343.49 between April 2017 and April 2018.
The US citizen told another newspaper in March 2018 he had used his “solid understanding of how to run a business” to turn the club’s finances around, according to court documents.
Police allege Alexander used club money to bankroll personal expenses including his leased Land Rover and to pay parking fines and speeding tickets.
Alexander started as club president in September 2016.
The club’s then-treasurer, Debra Hampson, was the first to become suspicous of Alexander after he withdrew $3000 from the club’s bank account, said he “couldn’t remember” what it was for and only returned the money, in cash, after “eight weeks of consistent requests”, according to court documents.
Ms Hampson would go on to resign in September 2017, “frustrated that her recommendations and opinions were being ignored by the leadership team of the executive committee”.
In breach of club rules, Alexander was the only person with access to the club’s bank account, police allege.
Dozens of pages of spreadsheets compiled by fraud investigators allege Alexander, without authorisation, used the club credit card to pay for flights and accommodation in Melbourne to watch a soccer game in Melbourne in a corporate box.
Members of the executive committee confronted Alexander at his home in July 2018, armed with bank statements which showed more than $8000 from the club account had paid for his leased Land Rover before sacking him.
Alexander has not repaid any of the money he claimed was a result of “mistakes”, police claim.
In court on Thursday, prosecutors argued Alexander’s offending involved him “abusing his position of power” at the club.
Magistrate James Lawton refused Alexander bail, saying he posed a risk of fleeing, saying he had given police an address where he had not lived since September last year.
“He may fail to appear before the court,” Mr Lawton said.
Alexander is expected to return to court next week when he will again apply for bail.