Lawyer turned conman Christian Okoh, 29, sentenced to home detention for money laundering after snitching on co-offender brothers

THE family of Nigerian conman Christian Okoh say he is a ‘dog‘ and a ‘turncoat’ for agreeing to rat on his two brothers, an act which has seen them go to jail and him sentenced to home detention

Christian Okoh, 29, has been sentenced to home detention for money laundering

THE family of Nigerian conman Christian Okoh say he is a “dog” and a “turncoat” for agreeing to rat on his two brothers, an act which has seen them go to jail and him sentenced to home detention.

Justice Dean Mildren on Monday ordered Christian Okoh, 29, to serve two years jail, suspended on a condition he serve 10 months home detention.

Like his brothers, Christian Okoh was not ordered to repay any of the six-figure sum he and his brothers scammed out of businesses and unsuspecting individuals around the country.

“There appears to be no chance that you will ever repay it,” Justice Mildren said.

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“I have sentenced you on the basis that the monies will never be recovered.”

Christian Okoh’s lawyer, Peter Maley, said: “He is someone who has been described as a turncoat and a dog … he says that’s extremely upsetting.”

Christian Okoh agreed to give evidence against his gambling addict brother, Joseph Okoh, 32, who was the principal offender and who was in mid-September sentenced to five years and four months jail, with a two year and eight month non-parole period.

The youngest of the three brothers, Emmanuel Okoh, 26, pleaded guilty earlier this year to dealing in the proceeds of crime and is serving three years jail with an 18 month non-parole period.

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“He has been shunned from family in Darwin,” Mr Maley said.

“The only family that talk to him are family back in Nigeria.

“His two brothers, who are both in custody, and their extended families are particularly upset at him.”

Mr Maley said his client planned to return to Nigeria and either work as a lawyer, or put his nearly-complete Masters of Business Administration from CDU to use.

Crown Prosecutor Naomi Loudon said Christian Okoh should have joined his brothers in being ordered to serve jail time.

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Justice Mildren said home detention was a form of imprisonment which saved the taxpayer money and which would mean Christian Okoh could continue working.

Christian Okoh played a lesser role than his brothers in the scams, but Justice Mildren said: “as a lawyer, you should have known better”.