Glamorous Kardashian lookalike lawyers charged with submitting fake documents

The identity of two Kardashian lookalike lawyers charged with submitting fake documents to a suburban Melbourne court can be revealed, after a gag order on the media was lifted.

ZD Legal’s Zoe Davis (left) and Rachelle Badour-Taha have been accused of submitting a fake document on behalf of one of their clients. Picture: David Crosling

Two glamorous Melbourne lawyers have been charged with submitting fake documents to a suburban court that falsely claimed their client was in hospital when they should have been fronting a magistrate.

ZD Legal’s Zoe Davis, 34, and Rachelle Badour-Taha, 25, face charges of perverting the course of justice, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and using a false document in a court case that the media has been gagged from reporting until now.

The Kardashian lookalikes fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Thursday where they were accused of submitting a falsified hospital document on behalf of one of their clients, who was facing driving offences last year.

Charge sheets reveal the women each face three charges, including for using a false document to induce Magistrate Gerard Bryant to accept it as genuine, and therefore avoid an arrest warrant being issued for their client Alana Digby.

The court was told that their client believed her Frankston Magistrates’ Court hearing was on September 25 when it was actually the following day.

She was unable to attend the next day, so her lawyers allegedly submitted a falsified document that claimed she had a hospital appointment.

Zoe Davis and Rachelle Badour-Taha fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Thursday. Picture: David Crosling

But a court registrar noticed inconsistencies in the document, with subsequent inquiries with the hospital allegedly revealing they had no records of the client being a patient.

Detective Senior Constable Jamie Shanks alleged the client later told police her lawyers had told her to book a hospital appointment because questions had been raised about the validity of the document.

The detective said investigators spoke with one of the lawyers in December, where Ms Davis claimed she had no knowledge or involvement with the allegedly falsified document.

“This investigation is ongoing and new evidence is coming to light,” Senior Constable Shanks said.

An interim gag order banned any reporting of the case for the past week, with Ms Davis’ barrister Damien Sheales arguing that the identification of his client could endanger her mental health, stating she experiences depression, epilepsy and PTSD.

But no psychological report was forthcoming and the duo abandoned their suppression application in a court hearing on Wednesday, which they did not attend.

An interim gag order has prevented the media from reporting on the case until now. Picture: David Crosling

However, Mr Sheales sought that claims from the bar table over Ms Davis’ mental health be stricken from the public record.

He said the media could continue to report the “dishonesty” charges, but otherwise, “this is just titillating, in my submission”.

Mr Sheales argued the publication of his client’s gag bid on mental health grounds could impact “the proper administration of justice” in that it could deter others from applying for similar non-publication orders.

“It could only have a deterrent effect … lawyers will tell (their clients), ‘You’ve got to understand, if I lay all this out and (the gag order is) not pursued … that will be published,” Mr Sheales hypothesised.

Magistrate Tara Hartnett refused the bid on Wednesday, stating she wasn’t satisfied there was “anything before me today that warrants the overriding of the principles of open justice”.

The pair will return to court in October. Picture: David Crosling

Her Honour’s ruling meant the case could be reported on in full.

Meanwhile, Det Shanks earlier said police believed Ms Davis and Ms Badour-Taha were a flight risk.

He wanted travel restrictions imposed on the duo, pointing out they had the means to travel and family connections in the UK, US and Lebanon.

Mr Sheales opposed the restrictions, saying Ms Davis had significant ties to Australia including a $3m home.

Ms Hartnett ruled against police and did not impose travel restrictions.

The court heard Ms Davis was still practising law while Ms Badour-Taha’s practising certificate had lapsed.

Ms Davis is described online as a solicitor and principal of ZD Legal with 12 years experience, focusing on traffic law, criminal law and property development.

ZD’s website appears to not be currently operating.

Ms Davis has previously represented former Carlton footballer Ron De Iulio over drug matters.

She also acted for Jennifer Cruz Cole, the former bikini-model girlfriend of Ultra Tune boss Sean Buckley, in protracted court battles over a range of allegations.

Ms Davis was reportedly heavily criticised in the Supreme Court this year for her conduct in an insolvency case.

Associate Justice Catherine Gobbo said she had ignored orders, filed documents with errors and was late or absent for three hearings, the Australian Financial Review reported.

Ms Davis and Ms Badour-Taha will return to court on October 10.