Cancer fraud Belle Gibson is finally back in court over unpaid fine
Cancer con Belle Gibson’s spending habits of the past two years have been analysed by experts, revealing Sportsbet transactions, cryptocurrency and future options trading — while ignoring her unpaid $410K fine. It comes as the fraudster takes to the witness box.
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CANCER fraudster Belle Gibson has revealed a lavish lifestyle of shopping, gambling and travelling despite owing a $410,000 fine for her misleading and deceptive conduct.
The Whole Pantry founder appeared poised in the witness box at the Federal Court yesterday as she was quizzed under oath for three hours about her expenditure over the past two years.
In 2017, the Melbourne mother was found guilty of five breaches of the consumer law over her health and wellness empire’s dealings.
Gibson, 27, claimed she had no capacity to pay the fine.
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But she admitted in court that just last week she had paid $200 for a black dress to wear to the hearing.
Outside court, she wore designer Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses.
And bank records tendered in court showed transactions for a Sportsbet account, cryptocurrency and future options trading, and multiple Afterpay and PayPal payments, often for online purchases.
The Melbourne mother arrived at the Federal Court nine minutes before her examination hearing was due to start at 10am, and was seen out for a lunch break.
During the examination — the first time Gibson has faced court since her web of lies was uncovered four years ago — it emerged she:
- Took a $5000 month-long holiday to Africa with her son, 8, in January;
- Does not work and lives off Centrelink payments;
- Used $75,000 from Channel 9 for a 60 Minutes interview for legal fees;
- Claims she has just “$50 to $85” cash to her name;
- Made extra money by selling items from her home “on the rare occasion” to make ends meet;
- Has “approximately $1800 to $2000” in a cryptocurrency account, but didn’t declare it as she did not regard it as an investment or an asset.
Gibson said most of the $600-a-week rent and utility bills at her Northcote home were paid by her co-lessee, Clive Rothwell. “I contribute when I can,” she said.
He had also paid $5500 for her legal representation yesterday, and for her African holiday — “a gift”.
Asked to clarify their relationship, Gibson said: “He is a friend.”
Elle Nikou Madalin, for Consumer Affairs Victoria, grilled Gibson about her expenses, even asking about the clothes she was wearing.
But Gibson, all in black with her hair sleeked back in a loose bun, said she was unable to say what labels she was wearing, saying she preferred to keep her clothing “pretty modest”.
Ms Nikou Madalin said Gibson’s bank statements showed “a great many transactions” beyond the usual groceries and Centrelink payments you would expect to find, many of them “overwhelmingly in the nature of discretionary spending”.
Gibson said the $75,000 from Channel 9 for an exclusive interview in 2015 had been exhausted. Further legal fees had been paid from her bank account, or by Mr Rothwell.
The court heard that, in a letter provided to Consumer Affairs in November 2017, she said she owed Mr Rothwell a personal loan of $90,000.
She could not say how much she now owed him.
Gibson claimed other personal expenses included annual school fees of $1000 for her son and $150 for the services of a gardener at her rental property at least twice a year.
She receives weekly child support from her son’s father.
Earlier in court, Affairs Victoria (CAV), immediately asked for an adjournment to examine the folder of documents Gibson had brought in with her.
But Andrew Tragardh, for Gibson, accused CAV of conducting itself in a “rather outrageous way” and argued the documents were mostly bank statements from the last two years that would not take long for them to peruse.
“We’d oppose it being adjourned,” Mr Tragardh said.
He also argued Gibson does not have “unlimited resources” to pay for a lawyer to come back to court again, urging it to be dealt with today.
“Ms Gibson has done everything she was asked to do (in the summons),” Mr Tragardh said, adding CAV had caused her “unnecessary stress” by making her appear today.
Ms Nikou Madalin said of course Mr Tragardh would say “there is nothing to see here” but the director of Consumer Affairs had forensic accountants on standby to pore over the documents once copies were provided.
She said it was difficult to proceed with questioning Gibson without having a proper look at the documents provided.
“I understand Ms Gibson may not want to face the media again, but that interest doesn’t come second to my client’s right to examine the records,” Ms Nikou Madalin said.
Consumer Affairs pursued civil action against Gibson after she duped consumers into buying her wellness app and cookbook on the basis of her false claims that she had had brain cancer that she miraculously cured using natural remedies.
The bogus blogger also failed to pass on promised donations to charities, including to a family whose young boy had an inoperable brain tumour from which he has since died.
A month ago, Gibson was summoned to face court to explain why she had failed to pay any of the $410,000 fine imposed in September 2017.
She was at risk of arrest if she ignored the summons.
Judicial Registrar Claire Gitsham, who is overseeing the hearing, ordered Gibson to return to court on June 6 for further examination.