Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell’s wife has gone bankrupt, a court has heard, as he faces allegations of misappropriating almost $9million.
Pannell is accused of defrauding his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, out of more than $8.7million.
The company claims he funnelled payments to a firm he controlled, Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors, which allegedly did no actual repair work.
Jonathan B. Davis, KC, acting for SeaRoad, said in Tuesday’s court hearing that his client was no longer pursuing Pannell’s wife Lynise Woodgate because ‘she is bankrupt’.
‘All invoices to SeaRoad were based on a deception,’ Davis told the court.
Pannell, 48, who officiated 219 AFL games between 2005 and 2018, including five finals, worked at SeaRoad Shipping during his umpiring career.
Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell is facing allegations of misappropriating almost $9million
SeaRoad Shipping claims Pannell created fake container repairs over a 10-year period totalling $8.7million (SeaRoad ship, pictured)
He was a controversial figure with the whistle and once paid 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs and only one to Adelaide in a 2016 game.
Pannell was jailed last year for contempt of court for failing to show up for court appearances related to SeaRoad’s civil claim.
He was not at Tuesday’s hearing.
Last year, Pannell emailed the court saying he could not attend because a kangaroo hit his car.
SeaRoad Shipping alleges that Pannell authorised hundreds of repair invoices for shipping containers, each typically costing between $800 and $900.
Suspicion was only raised when a finance manager discovered that the company receiving the payments was not registered for GST.
Pannell allegedly had the authority to approve purchase orders up to $5000 without requiring oversight.
The company trusted him to follow proper processes but claimed none of the repairs were completed.
Pannell (pictured) has attracted controversy both on and off the field
Pannell (pictured left arriving at court last year) officiated 219 AFL games
Woodgate called Pannell a liar and a cheat in court documents last year, accusing him of having an affair that resulted in a child.
The couple owned two cafes in Melbourne’s inner west, which were shut down last year.
During a hearing last July, Pannell conceded he did not hold assets worth $8.7million.
The case continues.
