Former Global Connect founder, chief executive Ross Pene pleads not guilty to perverting course of justice
The former chief executive of a controversial rehab centre, whose guests have included bikies, a fugitive and fallen television star Andrew O’Keefe, has denied he issued fraudulent reports on a patient’s drug use and has been granted bail.
Newcastle
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The former chief executive of a controversial rehab centre, whose guests have included bikies, a fugitive and fallen television star Andrew O’Keefe, has denied he issued fraudulent reports on a patient’s drug use and has been granted bail.
On Wednesday morning Strike Force Toopuntul detectives stormed a residence in Swan Bay where they arrested Ross Pene, 68, the Christian pastor behind the troubled Connect Global facility.
The facility was the brainchild of Pene, who used investors money to buy a row of cabins on the banks of the Karuah River in 2013.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with five counts of intending to pervert the course of justice, relating to five patients.
Police allege Pene was issuing fraudulent reports about patient’s drug use who were required to be at the facility drug-free as part of their bail undertaking.
The 68-year-old appeared at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Wednesday afternoon where he pleaded not guilty to all five charges and applied for and was granted bail.
Represented by solicitor Craig Eade, Pene was granted strict conditional bail and must report three times a week to police, surrender his passport, not enter any international airport or other point of departure in Australia and also put up a surety of $20,000.
His matter with next be mentioned in court on June 10.
His arrest follows a year-long investigation into the facility by the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad North and the NSW Attorney-General’s Department, and a raid in October last year where officers seized electronics and documents.
In January the board of the facility decided at a meeting to wind up the 10-year operation.
The Connect Global facility, operating as a community outreach program for men at the tourist facility known as ‘Fisherman’s Village’, was highly criticised by local residents who expressed concerns about the mixing of convicted criminals, including bikies, and tourists staying at the site, citing safety concerns and anti-social behaviour.
The centre has also come under continued criticism from politicians and law enforcement.
It made headlines earlier this year following the bizarre disappearance of alleged drug importer Hussein Chamas, who appeared to have walked out of the facility after management followed orders from what was purported to be from the NSW Supreme Court.
Mr O’Keefe is not accused of any criminal wrongdoing in the matter.
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