Jeremy Muller sentenced for lying to police in Port Fairy

A “a series of foolish decisions” resulted in a man narrowly escaping a jail sentence.

Jeremy Muller pleaded guilty to charges of perjury in the Geelong Magistrates' Court.

A man charged with perjury after “a series of foolish decisions upon foolish decisions, which lead to catastrophic consequences” has narrowly escaped being jailed by a Geelong court.

Court documents reveal Jeremy Muller, 39, made a written statement to police and falsely reported that his vehicle had been stolen.

Muller said he did not know where his vehicle was and falsely signed and acknowledged his written statement in the presence of a leading senior constable, the documents said.

Muller, a former Shepparton man who now resides in Queensland, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court to charges including perverting the course of justice, falsely reporting his vehicle had been stolen, moving an impounded vehicle and using a motor vehicle that was not registered.

The court was told Muller committed the offence of perjury on June 25, 2020 in Port Fairy.

Court documents also reveal Muller falsely – and with knowledge of the falsity of the report – voluntarily reported to a police officer the theft of a motor vehicle, which required an investigation by police.

Crown prosecutor Pinar Tat said the offence was worthy of a “straight term of imprisonment”.

“It (perjury) is a serious example of this offence, it is premeditated, there’s quite a bit of planning or a degree of sophistication,” Ms Tat said.

Muller’s lawyer said his client’s offending did not occur in a courtroom and should not be classified as a serious level of perjury, but one that was mid range.

“It’s not a level of perjury that sees somebody falsely accused/falsely acquitted.

“What it really is, is a series of foolish decisions, upon foolish decisions, upon foolish decisions, which then ultimately lead to catastrophic consequences for my client,” he said.

Magistrate Franz Holzer convicted and sentenced Muller to a good behaviour bond for 12 months and also fined him $7500.

“I am aware of the unusual circumstances in this … it’s acknowledged it’s serious and there’s no such thing as trivial perjury,” Mr Holzer said.

If not for the plea of guilty, Muller would have been jailed for four months.

Originally published as Jeremy Muller sentenced for lying to police in Port Fairy