Skipper of tycoon’s luxury cruiser lied multiple times during troubled voyage crossing borders

The skipper of the luxury Lady Pamela yacht, whose high-flying clientele included Rex Hunt and Sam Newman, has been sentenced for providing a false declaration.

The skipper of the luxury cruiser Lady Pamela, owned by Victorian multi-millionaire Mark Simonds, sent multiple emails to maritime authorities lying about disembarking from the ship as it sailed from Victorian waters into Queensland.

The extent of Greg Numa’s deceit was revealed at Southport Magistrates Court on Friday as the former celebrity manager pleaded guilty to one count of making a false declaration to an emergency officer.

Numa, 64, whose high-flying former clientele includes TV host Rex Hunt and former AFL player and TV personality Sam Newman, dodged a conviction for his flagrant border breach.

Greg Numa and his lawyer arrive at Southport Magistrates Court on Friday morning. Picture: Blake Antrobus

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Damian Summerfield told the court the vessel left Victoria on August 10 at the height of renewed coronavirus lockdowns across the state.

The family of Melbourne property magnate Mark Simonds was on board at the time.

Throughout the voyage, Numa sent more than 80 emails to a Queensland Maritime Safety officer assuring him no-one had disembarked.

However, Snr Const Summerfield said the crew had done so on multiple occasions during the voyage.

While docked at Eden, in southern NSW, on August 12 Numa disembarked at 9.17am to visit an auto-parts store and coffee shop.

Lady Pamela employees and passengers, including Mr Simonds and his wife, Cheryl, disembarked to shop at local stores through the day.

Numa emailed maritime authorities that day assuring them no crew members had left the boat unless necessary to pick up supplies.

Snr Const Summerfield said the false information was provided to obtain a quarantine exemption from Queensland Health.

The Lady Pamela then docked at Port Stephens on August 14, with Numa disembarking at 10am and using a car to pick up shopping.

Numa emailed maritime authorities on August 15 assuring them they “had no contact with the outside world for the past three days, other than from NSW police”.

The quarantine exemption was granted on August 20, with conditions that no person disembark.

He kept the guise up until the boat made its way to the Gold Coast on August 24.

Footage from the TV program A Current Affair revealed people on the vessel had disembarked in Yamba, in northern NSW.

Police then directed all passengers to hotel quarantine.

The 30m vessel Lady Pamela berthed at Gold Coast City Council Marina Coomera Picture: Newscorp

Numa’s defence lawyer Glen Cranny told the court his client regretted his actions and the “high degree of public examination and commentary” had reinforced how serious his actions were.

He said the vessel needed to make its way to Queensland for maintenance.

“He (Numa) never believed this would present such a great risk,” Mr Cranny said.

“He certainly didn’t act maliciously.”

Magistrate Grace Kahlert issued Numa a $4500 fine but did not record a conviction.

“The offending is serious because of the potential risk it poses to the community,” Magistrate Kahlert said.

“It was protracted over a week or so and could have potentially placed members of the community at risk.”

Outside court, Mr Numa said he took full responsibility for what prosecutors called a ‘very significant’ matter before defending his high-profile passengers.

“I regret that,” he said. “Other than that, I would like to say the integrity of the Fox family and the Simonds family remains intact.

“They had absolutely nothing to do with my decision.”

The luxury 30m vessel, which costs up to $1950 an hour to hire, accommodates up to eight guests in four deluxe suites.

Numa leaves Southport Court on Friday. Picture: Blake Antrobus

Originally published as Skipper of tycoon’s luxury cruiser lied multiple times during troubled voyage crossing borders