Pineapple Funding CEO Andrew Spira charged over alleged credit card, passport fraud

‘High risk of death’: A 24-year-old businessman and relative of media mogul Ita Buttrose has been refused bail despite a bold offer to the court and claims he might die in prison.

A Sydney entrepreneur has been remanded in custody over a string of fraud, firearms and drug offences in Darwin after being granted bail in NSW just a fortnight ago, despite offering his multimillion dollar empire as surety and telling the judge he was “at high risk of death” if he was sent to prison in the Territory.

Pineapple Funding chief executive Andrew Spira, 24, allegedly attempted to use fraudulent credit card details to fly overseas and applied for an Australian passport in Darwin claiming his had been stolen, when it had in fact been surrendered to NSW police as part of his bail granted earlier this month after a different attempt at using fake documents to travel overseas.

Andrew Spira faced Darwin Local Court Wednesday morning. Picture: John Appleyard

Spira – who is the great-nephew of media mogul Ita Buttrose – faced Darwin Local Court on Wednesday morning charged with dealing in identification information, using and possessing false documents, possessing or using a firearm unlicensed, failing to store a firearm correctly, possessing trafficable quantities of testosterone and nandrolone, and obtaining property by deception.

It was alleged Spira had travelled from NSW to the NT last week and had been staying at the Darwin Hilton for five days.

The court heard he allegedly used encrypted electronic devices “for dishonest ends” and had forged various letters, including one from his previous lawyer, but had denied all knowledge of the documents when questioned by police.

Andrew Spira’s defence lawyer said he had made “deranged” choices. Picture: Supplied.

Defence lawyer Jon Tippett told the court Spira had developed a dependency on the drug diazepam and was “a genuinely sick person” who had made “deranged” choices, arguing he needed to be granted bail to access health treatment.

Spira had been granted bail in NSW on the condition he reside at a Bondi mental health clinic and Judge Elisabeth Morris said she could not be satisfied any bail requirements would ensure he remain in the Territory.

Sitting in the dock, Spira rose to implore Ms Morris to reverse her decision, ignoring her advice he should defer to his lawyers.

“I’m willing to forfeit everything I have to the court in return for bail,” he said.

“My error of judgment was completely flawed due to drugs, unfortunately.

“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.”

Spira’s mother is socialite Lizzie Buttrose, the niece of ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose.

Spira’s mother Lizzie Buttrose with her aunt Ita Buttrose in 2005. Picture: Simon Bullard

Spira founded his business loan company in 2018 and now employs almost two dozen people in Australia and the Philippines.

He told the court he was concerned about his team, his shareholders and his parents, who he supported financially.

“I worked very hard … lately, unfortunately, it seems like I’m back into old habits.

“If I don’t have the chance to get my affairs in order … not only am I at risk, but my family are at risk.”

“I need medical assistance urgently, I’m having constant seizures, I understand the penal system up here is quite harsh, like in New South Wales, except I imagine there’s a lot more violence, and I think I’m at high risk of death if I don’t get medical assistance,” he said.

The court heard Spira owned a home in the up-market Sydney suburb Vaucluse, along with 16 investment properties.

The Vaucluse property Spira bought with his former partner was put on the market this week with a price guide of $9m.

“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,” Spira told the court.

Ms Morris ordered a mental health assessment and Spira’s case was adjourned to Thursday.

Originally published as Pineapple Funding CEO Andrew Spira charged over alleged credit card, passport fraud