Sheriff seizes assets of cancer conwoman Belle Gibson
Cancer faker Belle Gibson has had her assets seized by the Sheriff’s Office. The wellness blogger owes more than $500,000 in fines after she was found to have duped consumers by claiming she cured her brain cancer with natural remedies and food.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cancer conwoman Belle Gibson has been issued with a warrant to hand over valuable assets to pay off her growing fine.
Representatives from the Sheriff’s Office attended the bogus health and wellness blogger’s Northcote home on Wednesday.
The officers executed a “warrant of seizure and sale on items belonging to Ms Gibson”, Consumer Affairs Victoria confirmed.
It is not clear what items were taken.
Gibson, 28, owes more than $500,000 in fines, penalties and interest after she was found to have breached consumer law by duping consumers into buying her wellness app and cookbook on the basis of false claims she cured her brain cancer with natural remedies and healthy eating.
She has dodged criminal charges, but was ordered to pay a $410,000 fine in September 2017.
Last year, after still not paying a cent, the young mother was forced to appear at the Federal Court to explain why she had made no efforts to pay the fine.
During the hearing, she pleaded she was poor, portraying herself as a struggling single mother who is living off government benefits.
She said she could not afford to pay the penalty.
But her lavish expenditure was laid bare, including holidays to Bali, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Africa, as she was grilled by the consumer watchdog for two-and-a-half hours.
She could not explain mystery cash deposits into her account.
MORE NEWS
ACCUSED TODDLER KILLER DODGES COURT AGAIN
BIKIES ACCUSED OF FIRING AT EASTLINK VICTIM’S CAR
CHINA VIRUS DEATH TOLL: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Gibson’s bank statements in the two years to April 2019 also revealed $13,000 in transactions for clothes, accessories and cosmetics.
Consumer Affairs Victoria confirmed the warrant had been executed.
“Consumer Affairs Victoria is committed to recovering the debt Ms Gibson owes the Victorian public and will continue to pursue Ms Gibson until it is repaid in full,” the watchdog said.
Gibson could not be contacted for comment.