Nearly 8000 fine defaulters rack up more than $13.7 million in debt

A Tasmanian woman has 175 upaid fines totalling more than $32,000 in a list of the state’s worst fine defaulters. SEE THE MOST PROLIFIC OFFENDERS

Convicted abalone poacher David Wei Meng Lee was fined more than $1.2 million in 2006 but is yet to pay a single cent of his fine.

A Tasmanian woman has 175 unpaid fines totalling more than $32,000 in a list of the state’s worst fine defaulters.

Tricia Anne Kelly, of Claremont, is list among more than 150 people who each owe the state of Tasmania more than $10,000 in outstanding fines and other penalties.

The latest Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service data shows some extraordinarily prolific offenders.

Ms Kelly owes $32,121 from her 175 outstanding fines.

She is closely followed by Melissa Lee Denby, of Invermay, who has 160 outstanding fines totalling $32,354.

David Wei Meng Lee remains to the state’s worst offender with $1.2 million in fines outstanding for more than a decade.

The Gold Coast businessman was busted trading up to 10,000 black market abalones between 2001 and 2002 in a large-scale and sophisticated scam.

Sentencing judge Justice Shan Tennent acknowledged at the time of imposing the sentence there was “little prospect” of the fine being paid.

She was right: not a cent has been seen since his conviction in 2006 and Lee has been hard to find too.

ABALONE TRAFFICKER HASN’T PAID A CENT OF $1.2M FINE

His unpaid debt is part of more than $13.7 million in outstanding fines and penalties owed by 7856 people. The top 10 is dominated by interstate residents.

SERIAL ABALONE POACHER SENT TO JAIL FOR 12 MONTHS

The highest-ranked Tasmanian on the list is New Norfolk man Jie Lawrence Rainbird, who owes $63,344 for 14 separate unpaid fines.

Launceston cladding contractor W&A Sherwood Enterprises is the highest-ranked company on the list.

MORE TASSIE NEWS TODAY

HOBART MUSIC LEGEND DIES AT 70

SELFISH OR SUSTAINABLE? HOBART BANS PLASTIC

TAKE TWO FOR HUON BLUES AND ROOTS FESTIVAL

HANSON JETS IN TO TARGET TASSIE VOTES

STATE GOVERNMENT JOINS BUILDING HEIGHTS DEBATE

The company was fined in 2014 for workplace safety offences over the death of a worker on the Devonport Homemakers Centre.

The fine followed a plea of guilty to one count of failing to ensure an employee at a workplace was safe from injury and risks to health.

The entire fine amount of $55,148 remains outstanding.

The Justice Department has been publishing the names of debtors since 2005.

“These enforcement debtors have failed to pay their monetary penalties and are now the subject of enforcement sanctions,” the MPES website says.

“These details will remain published until such time as the enforcement debtor discharges their obligations to the Director by either: paying their outstanding monetary penalties in full, enter into an approved variation of payment conditions or satisfy the debt by other means.”

TASMANIA’S 25 MOST PROLIFIC OFFENDERS:

1. Tricia Anne Kelly, Claremont, TAS. Fines: 175. Total: $32,121.41

2. Melissa Lee Denby, Invermay, TAS. Fines: 160. Total: $32,534.04

3. Stacey Amanda Bessell, Maryborough, VIC. Fines: 131. Total: $25,333.31

4. Clinton Mark Walker, Claremont, TAS. Fines: 111. Total: $19,971.98

5. Wayne Ward, Glenorchy, TAS. Fines: 108. Total: $26,000.48

6. Anita Antolini, Warrane, TAS. Fines: 101. Total: $23,000.82

7. Jacqueline Marie Timbs, Claremont, TAS. Fines: 95. Total: $20,448.9

8. Willow McLeod Pott, Fines: 91. Total: $19,134.1

9. Daniel Robert Cordwell, Glenorchy, TAS. Fines: 90. Total: $8,643.74

10. Danny William McDonald, Derwent Park, TAS. Fines: 90. Total: $14,848.13

11. Kristy Lee Barwise, Derwent Park, TAS. Fines: 86. Total: $17,011.5

12. Rachael Vanessa Bradford, Kellevie, TAS. Fines: 83. Total: $16,102.5

13. Shaun William Hill, Gagebrook, TAS. Fines: 81. Total: $17,960.27

14. Vanessa Jane Cowen, Bridgewater, TAS. Fines: 80. Total: $12,071.8

15. Katherine Anne Startup, Lutana, TAS. Fines: 77. Total: $13,836.69

16. Mohamed Fayez Karam, Moonee Ponds, VIC. Fines: 75. Total: $15,693

17. Gene Zimmermann, Mowbray, TAS. Fines: 72. Total: $13,778

18. Cody John Alan Dolan, Warwick, QLD. Fines: 70. Total: $14,417.24

19. Charelen Anne Banfield, West Ulverstone, TAS. Fines: 69. Total: 13,776.35

20. Mark Leonard Thomas, Shepparton, VIC. Fines: 69. Total: $21,197.96

21. Kerry James Davison, Devonport, TAS. Fines: 67. Total: $15,516.27

22. Corey Bamber Brooke, Dubbo, NSW. Fines: 64. Total: $19,613.13

23. Tyson James Ryan, Wallsend, NSW. Fines: 64. Total: $12,879.6

24. Danny Scott Devine, Gagebrook, TAS. Fines: 63. Total: $12,639.36

25. Carol Anne Devine, Goodwood, TAS. Fines: 63. Total: $10,006.25

TASMANIA’S TOP 25 FINE DEFAULTERS:

1. David Wei Meng Lee: $1,226,060.00

2. Mark Christopher Tyrer, Brighton East, Vic: $314,570.00

3. Steven John Brear, Lansvale, NSW: $236,979.30

4. Ian Powell, Carrum Downs, Vic: $151,027.45

5. Daniel Kenneth Platt, Quirindi, NSW: $120,807.00

6. James Stanley Morcom, Glenfield Park, NSW: $119,537.00

7. Allen Filep, Bundall, Qld: $107,440.60

8. Christine Kay Jones, Baldivis, WA: $79,758.06

9. Jie Lawrence Rainbird, New Norfolk: $63,344.47

10. Tyrone John Fenech, Cooee $60,510.00

11. W&A Sherwood Enterprises Pty Ltd, Riverside: $55,148.44

12. Trent Phillip Tuthill, Norwood: $50,644.63

13. Ryan Edward Halloran: $43,750.00

14. Nathan Leigh Stebbings, West Moonah: $33,928.34

15. David Brian George Reynolds, Geeveston: $33,007.02

16. Melissa Lee Denby, Invermay: $32,534.04

17. Tricia Anne Kelly, Claremont: $32,121.41

18. Malcolm Charles Mceachern, Mount Gambier SA: $31,565.65

19. Paul Kevin Bartlett, Upper Burnie: $26,308.42

20. Wayne Ward, Glenorchy: $26,000.48

21. Jason Andrew Moore, St Leonards: $25,673.74

22. Michael James Morris, West Hobart: $25,596.50

23. Shane Andrew Lee, Lindisfarne: $25,409.43

24. Stacey Amanda Bessell, Maryborough, Vic: $25,333.31

25. Joshua George Filgate, Geeveston: $25,223.07