Convicted fraudster Des Fong cops more jail time for not turning up to meeting with ASIC

DISGRACED accountant and convicted fraudster Des Fong has been slapped with more jail time after failing to turn up to a meeting with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Darwin accountant and former local council candidate Des Fong arrives at the NT Supreme Court for sentencing proceedings.

DISGRACED accountant and convicted fraudster Des Fong has been slapped with more jail time after failing to turn up to a meeting with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Fong appeared via video link from the Darwin Correctional Centre on Friday where he pleaded guilty to not complying with a notice.

It comes after Fong pleaded guilty to stealing almost $400,000 from one of his clients last year.

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The court yesterday heard Fong was ordered to appear before ASIC in the lead-up to his fraud trial in October last year.

He failed to do so, which his lawyer, John Lawrence QC, said was because he was distracted by his upcoming trial.

“He was due to stand trial in Supreme Court on October 7,” Mr Lawrence said.

“He was completely overwhelmed by that, he can’t remember receiving the summons in questions.”

“He was under a lot of stress and if someone had stolen a lot of money that would have no doubt contributed to the stress,” replied Local Court Judge Elisabeth Armitage.

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Fong was sentenced to six weeks prison, to be served alongside his current sentence.

He is due to be released from prison in April next year.