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Conman Peter Foster to be extradited to Queensland

Appearing before Melbourne Magistrate’s Court via video-link wearing a hospital gown and wristband, Peter Foster makes a series of bizarre claims.

Peter Foster on a Port Douglas beach last year. Picture: FW Global
Peter Foster on a Port Douglas beach last year. Picture: FW Global

From a secluded life of luxury to a Melbourne prison cell, notorious conman and bail jumper Peter Foster’s return to harsh reality has been swift.

He told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday he wanted to return to Queensland and did not fight his extradition to his home state, where he faces 16 fraud charges relating to a bitcoin scheme called Sport Predictions.

About 54km away from the six-bedroom, 4ha lifestyle property he’d most recently called home, a bearded Foster appeared via video-link in court wearing a hospital gown and a bracelet, his white hair a couple of centimetres below his ears.

The career fraudster made a series of claims before the court, going against the advice of lawyer Christopher Hannay and complaining about his “brutal ­arrest” on a beach at Port Douglas, Queensland, in August last year.

“I would like to say my concern is with the Queensland Police (and) not just the way they ­arrested me in Port Douglas,” Foster said before Mr Hannay tried to stop him.

Foster persevered and said: “Can I just be heard for one ­minute, Chris?”

His lawyer replied: “I can’t stop you but it’s not appropriate.”

Foster then made a series of claims about the police investigation, including that key witnesses had been interviewed by someone other than police and that evidence had been obtained under subpoena.

The luxury house in Victoria where Foster had been hiding out after skipping bail.
The luxury house in Victoria where Foster had been hiding out after skipping bail.
The luxury house in Victoria where Foster had been hiding out after skipping bail.
The luxury house in Victoria where Foster had been hiding out after skipping bail.

Foster said it was always his ­intention to emerge from hiding but he was waiting for the Queensland Director of Prosecutions to take over from Queensland police.

“I’m not opposing the (extradition) order,” he said.

“As a proud Queenslander, I want to go home.”

At the end of the hearing, magistrate Jason Ong asked Mr Hannay if there was anything else he wanted to raise.

“No, I think Mr Foster has covered all that,” he replied.

Foster had been missing since he gave NSW Police the slip in May. His bail-ordered ankle bracelet was found in ­Sydney’s CBD.

He was arrested on Tuesday by the Australian Federal Police’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team at a house in Gisborne in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, where he tried briefly to hide under the deck.

The luxury house in Victoria where Foster had been hiding out after skipping bail.
The luxury house in Victoria where Foster had been hiding out after skipping bail.

The front-door lock was broken on Wednesday, and the door slightly ajar. Several empty wide-screen television boxes were in the rumpus room.

Neighbours expressed shock that the man they had seen on the television the night before had been living next door.

Advertised for $1250 a week in June, the sandstone and wood home boasts six bedrooms, four bathrooms and views of Melbourne and the You Yangs ­ranges, and is close to a vineyard.

The property was leased in early August and it appears Foster didn’t make his way to the Gisborne town centre, about 5km from the house, often enough to leave an impression.

Foster is facing 16 charges over a bitcoin scheme called Sport Predictions, including five counts of publishing false and misleading material to obtain advantage and 10 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/peter-foster-makes-wild-claims-at-melbourne-extradition-hearing/news-story/9e6aad6e2b86149f29eb6daf14c38a56