Jamie Close: Vitality King health coach given trial date to defend charges
The self-proclaimed Vitality King has been given a trial date to defend six charges of money laundering and fraud.
St George Shire Standard
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A holistic health coach who calls himself the Vitality King has been given a trial date where he will defend allegations he was involved in money laundering and defrauding investors.
Jamie Close, 50, appeared via audiovisual link at Sydney Downing Centre and was arraigned, entering not guilty pleas to six charges last week.
Close has been charged with three counts of providing designated remittance service while unregistered and three counts of aid and abet by receiving suspected proceeds, money/property of more than $100,000 in Kirrawee and Eastlands between June and August 2020.
Close was charged under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act.
Commonwealth prosecutors allege Close was transferring money overseas while he was an unregistered remittance service provider, which is an individual, business or organisation that accepts instructions from customers to transfer money or property to a recipient.
Prosecutors further allege Close received suspected proceeds from co-accused, investment firm CEO Mark Estephan, who was named in the indictment.
Last week in Sutherland Local Court, Estephan’s new legal representatives said the case was not ready to be committed for trial and was adjourned until July 12.
Estephan is facing more charges than Close but the Crown wants the trials to be heard together because there is an overlap in allegations.
The court heard Close’s trial is expected to take three to four weeks and if Estephan’s trial is combined that will add a further two to three weeks.
The case was set down for trial on May 22 next year at Sydney Downing Centre.
Close remains on bail.
He is a former stripper whose Facebook page refers to himself as a spiritual healer, transformational coach, channeller and author.
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