Disgraced accountant to wait a few more weeks to learn his fate

Justice Stephen Southwood said he was ‘not sure Corrections really understands what’s required in this case’ after the matter had to again be adjourned to obtain a report.

Darwin accountant Des Fong arrives at the Darwin Local Court for a committal proceeding before later pleading guilty to stealing almost $400,000. Picture: Justin Kennedy

FORMER Darwin council candidate Des Fong will have to wait a few more weeks to learn his fate after his sentencing proceedings were again adjourned in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The disgraced accountant last month pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to stealing $399,657.80 from a company in the process of buying the business of his client, NT Welding, which hired him as an intermediary in the sale.

• Disgraced accountant Des Fong ‘still a good man’, court hears
• Former council candidate and roundabout fan Des Fong pleads guilty to stealing almost $400,000

In a pre-sentence hearing last month, Fong’s barrister John Lawrence, told the court his client should be afforded the benefit of a partially suspended sentence due to his good character and the impact of his jailing on his young, severely disabled son.

That hearing was adjourned so the court could obtain a report into what support Fong’s wife could access for the couple’s son while he was behind bars but by Wednesday Corrections had still been unable to produce such a report.

Justice Stephen Southwood said he was “not sure Corrections really understands what’s required in this case” and tasked Crown prosecutor David Morters with attempting to obtain the information himself.

“Essentially what needs to be looked at is, given the circumstances which now exist because Mr Fong, the offender has been remanded in custody, there is a change,” he said.

“What are the needs of the child, what assistance or plan can be formulated to assist the child and the mother, what are the likely prospects of that being covered by NDIS?”

After a short recess, Mr Morters indicated an appropriate report could likely be produced within a matter of weeks.

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Mr Lawrence told an earlier hearing Fong was “an old school gentleman” who had contributed to the community.

“You’ve got 20 references that tell you that this prisoner who pleaded guilty is basically an old school gentleman — civil, courteous, understated, kind and generous,” he said.

Fong will return to court for sentencing at a date to be fixed.