Andrew Sackl fronts court for giving false testimony

A dishonest businessman once dubbed Melbourne’s “Wolf of Wall St” twice lied about his finances in a court proceeding that prompted a police investigation.

Failed Melbourne businessman Andrew Sackl has been sent to prison for twice lying in court about his finances during a judicial proceeding that he initiated.

A failed businessman once dubbed Melbourne’s “Wolf of Wall St” who twice lied in court about his finances prompting a police investigation has been jailed.

Andrew James Sackl earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of giving false testimony in a judicial proceeding and was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday to at least six months’ imprisonment.

The 36-year-old from Toorak was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment but will be released on a recognizance release order after serving six months to be of good behaviour for three years.

In August 2020, Sackl deliberately falsified documents, gave false evidence and failed to make disclosure which prevented the court from making its determination in a judicial proceeding he initiated.

The whereabouts of $9m purportedly received as part of the sale of his company Young Media was a major focus of the proceeding.

He lied twice- one in his affidavit and another while giving oral evidence- that prompted the presiding judge to prepare a report which was forwarded to the AFP for an investigation into whether Sackl had committed any criminal offence in that court.

Andrew Sackl, once dubbed Melbourne’s “Wolf of Wall St, has been convicted of giving false testimony in a judicial proceeding.

Sackl stated in court documents that his Westpac Bank account had a balance of

$4.2m in 2013 but investigations revealed two deposits of that amount were made in August 2017.

While giving evidence, he lied that the sale of Young Media took place prior to August 2011 and told the court the $4.2m was because of a banking transaction error linked to a refinance.

He also lied that all documents he submitted in court were sourced by his accounts team and that two team members had authority on his bank account.

Judge Fiona Todd said instead of taking responsibility for lying in court and retreating, Sackl doubled down and even added others such as his accounts team in his false testimony.

“Providing false information in any form to a court in a contested proceeding strikes at the heart of the administration of justice. It introduces chaos and uncertainty.

“It makes proceedings lengthier and more complex. It threatens the legitimacy and authority of court determinations. In short, it cannot be tolerated.

“Your affront to the administration of justice was not a one-off event. It took place on two dates separated by eight months. It extended both to the provision of false testimony in affidavit form as well as false oral evidence.”

Judge Todd said while it was true that Sackl’s falsehoods were easily discoverable, they were not lies in any context.

“They were told in court proceedings brought by you when you were under a very specific, serious obligation to tell the truth.”

She took into account the impact of Sackl’s imprisonment on his children, the judge said he must be punished for what she described as “persistent and deeply serious” offending.