THE COURTS:

The Bug’s finance and investment columnist Morrie Bezzle has appeared in court charged with a range of offences under consumer protection laws for an alleged scam involving the death last year of Queen Elizabeth II.

Morrison Edison Ponzi Phar Lap Bezzle, age and address unknown, pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief appearance this morning in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Queensland Police prosecutor Sergeant Lewis Terry outlined a lengthy list of charges against Bezzle who was alleged to have advertised online so-called “exclusive” sets of commemorative coins. (main picture)

“The advertisements offered consumers the choice of three sets of coins alleged to have been ‘specially struck’ to mark the late monarch’s silver, gold, and platinum jubilees,” Sgt Terry said.

“We allege that the advertisements and the offers made by Mr Bezzle led consumers to wrongly conclude that the coins were made from silver, gold, and platinum as the three different sets were priced accordingly.”

Sgt Terry said Queensland Police were still to determine if Bezzle’s use of an image of King Charles III together with an exhortation to buy had breached any laws in Australia or in the United Kingdom.

Sgt Terry said police and consumer affairs authorities in all states had been contacted by consumers who complained about the coin sets they bought from Mr Bezzle.

“All complainants said the coins were not ‘specially struck’ and were not made from silver, gold or platinum,” he told the court.

“In fact the coins were ordinary Australian currency in circulation that had been crudely spraypainted.”

Bezzle was remanded on bail to appear at a date to be fixed.

Speaking outside court (below) he told reporters that he would be “vigorously defending” what he described was his “ongoing persecution” by federal and state consumer protection agencies.

“I’m just a struggling, visionary entrepreneur trying to get ahead and every day I confront obstacles put in my way by shiny-arsed do-nothing pen pushers,” he said.

Mr Bezzle’s legal representative Dickie Shearman KC said he would be asking for the charges to be thrown out when the case returned to court.

“There is a clear conflict of interest involved that means my client can never receive a fair hearing,” Mr Shearman told reporters.

“The very charges against Mr Bezzle are being brought in the name of the Crown aka King Charlie who is a material element in this very same case.

“I believe the court should dismiss all changes based on this very salient point alone,” he said.

Mr Shearman rapidly ended the interview and walked away when asked if he would recuse himself from the case given his status as a King’s Counsel.

“I never said that,” was all he offered, while not making clear if he was referring to the issue or recusal or the validity of his post-nominal.