Serial conman Peter Foster’s bizarre police ‘state of origin stitch-up’ claims

Serial conman Peter Foster has accused police of filing “bogus” charges against him – and aired more wild claims outside court.

Serial conman Peter Foster has accused police of filing “bogus” charges against him in a “state of origin stitch-up”.

He also made sensational out-of-court claims that NSW police were paid to arrest him.

Foster has been accused of running a $2m bitcoin scam fraud.

He was arrested in Port Douglas in 2020 in a sting set up on the beach while he was walking his dog.

Peter Foster (right) with his lawyer Chris Hannay outside Southport Courthouse.

Foster spent months in New South Wales until police dropped the charges late last year.

He was to return to Queensland to face the charges but was found in Victoria in December last year. He was given bail in the Southport Magistrates Court.

Foster appeared in the magistrates court today, during which the fraud charges were mentioned. The case was adjourned until July 28 for prosecution to provide more material.

Outside of court, Foster told media: “This is an old fashioned state of origin stitch-up.

“New South Wales Police threw Queensland a dummy and they fell for it.

“When I was crashed-tackled in Port Douglas I said at the time the charges were bogus and that they would be withdrawn.”

Foster claimed unidentified members of the police force in New South Wales were paid prior to his arrest.

Foster said he had no aspersions on Queensland Police.

He said when the prosecution examined the evidence they would have concerns there were no links to Australia or Queensland.

Peter Foster is arrested at Port Douglas in 2020.

“It’s a dog of a prosecution but I am confident in due course sanity will prevail,” he said.

He described the case as “totally bogus”.

Foster said he was looking forward to the committal hearing as his lawyer Chris Hannay, of Hannay Lawyers, would rip his accusers “new orifices” under cross examination.

Foster claimed there were emails exonerating him of wrongdoing.

He said he was enjoying being back on the Coast.

“I’ve had adventures around the world but a moving target is hard to hit so you have to keep moving,” he said.

“I’m home now and this is it.”

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