THE COURTS:

The Bug’s finance and investment columnist Morrie Bezzle has been committed for trial on the first of what police say may end up being thousands of charges under consumer protection laws and the Currency Act 1965.

Morrison Edison Ponzi Phar Lap Bezzle, age and address unknown, pleaded not guilty to the charges and told reporters outside the Brisbane Magistrates Court (below) that he would be “vigorously defending” what he described was “yet more blatant and unwarranted persecution” by police and “shiny-arsed pen pushers” in federal and state consumer protection agencies.

During a brief court hearing this morning police prosecutor Sergeant Lewis Terry outlined a lengthy list of initial charges against Bezzle who was alleged to have enticed unsuspecting consumers to sign up for a “currency conversion” program in the weeks following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Sgt Terry said Bezzle had established a dedicated website and various social media accounts through which he actively promoted the erroneous claim that Her Majesty’s death had rendered worthless all currency bearing her portrait.

“Through his various internet channels Mr Bezzle encouraged consumers to ‘surrender’ their ‘now worthless’ money and offered them ‘currency conversion’ deals under which he would buy cash bearing the late monarch’s portrait at 10% of its face value,” he told the court.

“For instance he offered two cents for each 20-cent piece, five cents for a 50-cent piece, right up to 50 cents for each $5 note consumers may wish to ‘surrender’.

“Mr Bezzle compounded his offending by promising to pay the consumers he had duped with what he claimed were ‘fresh’ $5 notes that consumers were assured were valid since the ascension to the throne of King Charles III.

“On further investigation police found that the materials in question were leftover novelty admission tickets for a Chad Morgan live performance at the Toogoolawah Show in the Brisbane Valley back in June,” Sgt Terry said, adding that complaints were still being received by police and consumer authorities. (main picture)

Speaking outside the court after Magistrate Madge E. Strait committed him for trial next month, Mr Bezzle said he was “sick and tired” of being “pilloried by do-nothing bureaucrats and eggheads”.

“Yet again shiny arsed pen pushers have tied up an honest small businessman like me in their red tape,” he said.

Bezzle, who represented himself at the committal hearing, told reporters he would be ably represented at trial by his usual lawyer, Brisbane barrister Dickie Shearman KC.

Before declaring the news conference at an end he explained Mr Shearman could not be present in court as he was himself appearing in another court on multiple high-range drink-driving, public indecency, and animal cruelty charges.

As reporters began to leave the court precinct Mr Bezzle called them back to ask that they refrain from using the “KC” post-nominal for Mr Shearman.

“Plus you’d better not describe him as a barrister either. Or a lawyer. Just in case someone checks,” he said.