The Snitch: Jarryd Hayne’ alleged fraudster released early to protect society

Why was Jarryd Hayne alleged fraudster released early? Why will the long running tax case of George Alex run even longer? And what do the pundits think about season two of John Ibrahim’s show? The Snitch is here.

It’s not often that letting a crook out of jail could be a benefit to society.

But that was the situation with the man accused of conning ex-NRL star Jarryd Hayne out of $780,000.

Motor-mouth swindler Ishan Seenar Sappideen walked out of jail on August 27, which was a little bit ahead of the expiration of his full sentence for ripping off $4m from friends and family that was due to tick over on November 26.

But there’s a method to it, so hear us out.

If authorities made Sappideen serve his full sentence, he would leave prison with no strings attached in the form of monitoring conditions placed on him by authorities.

Ishan Sappideen. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Jarryd Hayne. Picture: John Appleyard

By letting him out when they did, it means Sappideen can have some level of control put on him, in the form of supervision and conditions placed on his behaviour.

And from his recent efforts, it sounds like a good idea.

It has been alleged that Sappideen ran riot in jail. He was accused of stealing $780,000 from Hayne and large sums of money from a collection of other inmates who can be categorised as very dangerous.

They included bikies and members of crime families.

Sappideen allegedly convinced them he had collected almost $300m in a business deal with Australian tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and got their associates on the outside the transfer money.

GEORGE ALEX CASE: THE SEQUEL

We’re told the long-running case of now convicted $10m tax fraudster George Alex is set to get even longer.

Alex and his four co-accused in the scheme were found guilty this week after a six month trial in the NSW Supreme Court.

But now we’re told the appeals – or notices of intention to appeal – are flowing into the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.

It will take months to formulate the full appeal. But we’re told one point could relate to an application made by Alex’s barrister, John Agius SC, at the end of the trial earlier this week to discharge the jury.

George Alex. Picture: NewsWire/Simon Bullard

Barrister John Agius SC.

Mr Agius submitted to the court that the judge, Justice Des Fagan, walked the jury through a logical mind map of how they could reach a decision to convict Alex and four others.

This came after the jury sent a note to Justice Fagan on August 26, which said: “All jurors agree that there is no realistic prospect of (reaching a unanimous decision), even if our (deliberation) time is extended further.”

There are also rumours that Australia’s most in demand barrister, Bret Walker SC, may come into the case.

Mr Walker is currently representing the CFMEU in its High Court challenge to the Albanese government’s law appointing administrators to run the union. So who knows, maybe Alex can get an introduction through his union mates. Stay tuned.

IBRAHIM: FIRST BLOOD PART 2

Season Two of John Ibrahim’s Last King of the Cross is out now on Paramount, and right on cue, members of the underworld have been dissecting the fictitious portrayal of the nightclub boss’ life.

John Ibrahim (right) with the cast of The Last King of the Cross. Picture: Daniel Asher Smith.

“The first season was John Wick, the second season is John Rambo,” one anonymous person said.

We can only assume this means that the show depicts Ibrahim on a one-man mercenary mission to free prisoners of war in South East Asia armed only with his wit, a headband and a gigantic machine gun.

Got a Snitch? Email brenden.hills.news.com.au.