Leah Arnold-Chen sentenced for travelling under false name

A model has offered up an odd reason as to why she was busted travelling under a false name on a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney.

Leah Mae Arnold-Chen at Downing Centre Local Court on April 17, 2024 after pleading guilty to travelling on a flight under a false identity. Picture: NewsLocal

A jetsetting model touched down in court after she was busted travelling under a false name on a flight booked by someone else between Sydney and the Gold Coast.

Model and agent Leah Mae Arnold-Chen was charged with taking a flight using a ticket obtained with a false identity after travelling for work on March 1 on a flight booked by a client under her social media and professional alias.

Documents tendered to the court reveal two Australian Federal Police officers checked and photographed Arnold-Chen’s licence and boarding pass at Coolangatta Airport before later noticing the discrepancy and alerting police in Sydney.

Arnold-Chen took the flight and was stopped as she attempted to get in a taxi at Sydney Airport.

“When asked initially as to why she had taken a flight with a different name on her boarding pass than her actual name, the accused stated that it was for her safety,” police facts state.

“The accused gave full and frank admissions to travelling under a false name, stating that although she did not make the flight booking, she was fully aware that her boarding pass and booking were in a different name.”

The 30-year-old Kogarah woman pleaded guilty to the charge and faced Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdarides at Downing Centre Local Court for sentence on Wednesday.

High-profile criminal solicitor Hisham Karnib told the court Arnold-Chen was not aware the flight booked by her client under her alias constituted an offence.

Arnold-Chen at court.

“The majority of her work is secured through social media, she was travelling with one of her clients, and that client booked the flight in accordance with her identity online,” Mr Karnib said.

“She simply wanted to maintain that discreet identity for the purpose of continuing employment – she simply wasn’t aware it was an offence.”

The court heard Arnold-Chen had previously faced court for multiple driving offences and had been sentenced to an intensive correction order for driving while suspended in May 2022.

Leah Arnold-Chen at Sutherland Local Court in May 2022 where she was sentenced for driving while suspended. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Commonwealth prosecutor asked the court to take specific and general deterrence into account when sentencing Arnold-Chen.

“It would appear to be a relevant factor in this particular matter, given the facts to make out that the defendant does seem to think that this is standard industry practice, that it’s a prevalent practice,” the prosecutor said.

Arnold-Chen.

Mr Tsavdarides dismissed Arnold-Chen’s cited safety concerns as a justification for flying under a different name.

“She told police she flew under different names for safety reasons, it’s unclear why someone in her employment needs greater safety protection than someone else,” Mr Tsavdarides said.

“The (bookings) were made by someone else, with her acceptance, and she is said to have stated it was industry practice to engage with clients under a false name – I reject that explanation.”

Mr Tsavdarides convicted Arnold-Chen and fined her $1000.