Delay in case of Pineapple Funding CEO Andrew Spira charged over alleged credit card, passport fraud

Delays have stalled the case of a 24-year-old businessman and relative of media mogul Ita Buttrose who is facing a string of fraud, firearms and drug charges. Here’s why.

Andrew Spira, the great-nephew of Ita Buttrose, had his case heard in Darwin Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

A two-week delay has hit the case of a Sydney multi-millionaire who allegedly fled his New South Wales bail before attempting to obtain an illegal passport in the Territory and leave the country.

Andrew Spira, the chief executive of business loan brokerage firm Pineapple Funding and relative of media mogul Ita Buttrose, had his matter heard for less than two minutes in Darwin Local Court on Thursday.

The 24-year-old faces a string of fraud, firearm and drug charges including using false documents, obtaining financial advantage by deception, possessing or using a gun without a licence, and possessing trafficable quantities of steroids.

Spira allegedly travelled to the NT last week with a personal assistant, where he tried to obtain a new passport by telling the Darwin passport office his had been stolen when it had in fact been surrendered to NSW police as part of his bail requirements in a separate case.

He also allegedly created forged letters from lawyers and attempted to book flights out of the country using fake credit card details.

Andrew Spira was charged with a string of fraud, firearms and drug offences in the Northern Territory. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

When the matter was first heard in Darwin on Wednesday, defence lawyer Jon Tippett KC said Spira had been through a messy break-up and “resorted to usage of valium”.

“He’s a genuinely sick person … deranged,” he said.

“He’s in a really bad way.”

Spira had been granted bail in NSW earlier this month on the condition he attend a Bondi mental health clinic for treatment.

Judge Elisabeth Morris on Wednesday agreed Spira required a mental health assessment but refused bail arguing there was too much risk he would use his “large financial resources” to flee the Territory.

“He is on almost exactly similar offences in New South Wales for which he was granted bail, and he’s come to the Northern Territory,” she said.

Spira’s mother Lizzie Buttrose with her aunt, media mogul Ita Buttrose in 2005. Picture: SIMON BULLARD

Spira was set to have a preliminary mental health assessment reviewed by a judge on Thursday morning, however no assessment had been carried out and his case was adjourned until June 8.

During his failed bail application Spira offered his multimillion-dollar empire as surety to the court, telling Ms Morris he was “at high risk of death” if he was sent to Darwin prison.

“It’s a real shame, it’s amazing, last year I was in Vaucluse in a house, and you never know where you’re going to end up, and all it took was half a valium to spiral down this hole so I’m willing to give everything to the state of the NT in exchange for bail, including my public company,” he said.

Spira told the court his drug troubles began as a teen, when he claimed he was given crystal methamphetamine by his mother Lizzie Buttrose – niece of ABC Chair Ita Buttrose.

“I started using drugs when I was 14, I managed to get clean when I was 17. My mother was the first person to give me ice when I was 14.”