September 6th 2024.
George Alex, a businessman who was wanted by the authorities, nonchalantly strolled into the courtroom holding a pack of cigarettes in one hand and a bottle of yellow Gatorade in the other. This was just a few hours after an urgent warrant was issued for his arrest. As he made his way in, a family member rushed in with a cane to assist him as he had injured his leg. The timing was perfect as it allowed them to witness the 53-year-old being taken into custody, marking the beginning of what could potentially be a lengthy jail sentence.
The reason for Alex's sudden appearance was due to his failure to show up for his bail hearing earlier that morning at the Darlinghurst courthouse. Instead, he appeared via video link from Northern Beaches Hospital. However, a warrant had already been issued for his arrest before he made his way to the NSW Supreme Court where he was taken into custody for his involvement in a $10 million fraud.
With his family present, an officer led Alex down the courtroom stairwell and out of sight as Justice Desmond Fagan went through the details of the case. He will now remain in custody until his sentencing on November 21. This was a significant turn of events for Alex, who had previously been granted bail to receive medical treatment despite being found guilty with four others in a plan to defraud the Australian Tax Office.
The group had been found guilty of conspiring to or intentionally dealing with proceeds of crime worth more than $1 million. To conceal their actions, they used a series of second-tier companies. This allowed them to hide over $10 million of pay-as-you-go tax from the ATO between 2018 and 2020.
Alex's doctor had previously convinced the judge to allow him to remain out on bail so he could receive treatment for his opioid addiction at the hospital, where he had been since August 23. However, Justice Fagan had no choice but to issue a warrant for his arrest when he failed to show up in court. He acknowledged that Alex would most likely face a significant amount of time behind bars.
During the hearing, Alex's barrister, John Agius SC, expressed concerns about his client's addiction and the lack of appropriate treatment he would receive while in custody. He also pointed out that Alex's leg would be at risk of amputation due to his addiction. It was revealed that Alex had developed an opioid addiction in 2014 when he self-medicated for a leg injury he sustained in a motor vehicle accident 30 years ago. At the peak of his addiction, he was consuming 240mg of opioids per day.
In an attempt to wean him off the opioids, Alex was receiving a buprenorphine substitute as part of a treatment plan. However, Justice Fagan stated that the matter had progressed too far and that private health treatment could have been an option before Alex was found guilty. He also mentioned that he did not believe a health issue could suddenly become a crisis after a six-month trial. Due to Alex's actions, special conditions could not be established, as he had essentially gone on a "bender".
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