THE COURTS:
The Bug’s finance and investment columnist Morrie Bezzle says police and government authorities are “killing the Aussie adventure spirit” by charging him with dozens of offences relating to alleged breaches of workplace health and safety and consumer protection laws.
Morrison Edison Ponzi Phar Lap Bezzle, age and address unknown, pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief committal hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Lewis Terry outlined a lengthy list of charges against Bezzle who was alleged to have advertised online for people wishing to participated in “the underwater adventure of a lifetime”.
Sergeant Terry said it was clear that Bezzle’s advertisements were designed to fool people into thinking they could pay to safely view the wreck of the Titanic which sank off Newfoundland in 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.
“Police raided the accused’s home and recovered certain materials which indicated he intended selling places on a so-called submersible for tens of thousands of dollars each to enable participants to view the wreck,” he told the court.
“Other materials including advertising graphics suggested the submersible was to be nothing more than a heavily modified surplus Telstra phone booth. (main picture)
“The raid and subsequent investigations have revealed no evidence that Mr Bezzle was capable of mounting any type of safe underwater expedition, let alone one to the depth of 3,800 metres in the North Atlantic.
“In fact the evidence we have found suggests Mr Bezzle was only intending to lower people into Moreton Bay off a disused jetty just north of Redcliffe, but even that posed an obvious safety risk.”
Magistrate Madge E Strait granted bail and remanded Bezzle to stand trial on a date to be fixed.
Outside the court Bezzle (below) said he would be “vigorously defending” what he described was his “ongoing persecution” by federal and state police and consumer protection agencies.
“These shiny-arsed do-nothing pen-pushers are killing the Aussie adventure spirit,” he declared.
Under questioning by reporters Bezzle denied his advertisements could have misled consumers into thinking they would see the Titanic for themselves.
“I’ve deceived nobody. I’m just an honest Aussie battler trying to make a quid, that’s all,” he replied.
“It’s very clear in the fine print of the terms and conditions that my submersible would be operating in local waters and that the name I’ve been using, Thaitanic Adventures, refers to the fact that the business is registered in Bangkok.”
Before calling an end to questions, Bezzle said nobody would have been at risk if they had entered his “submersible”.
“I bought a ridgy-didge metal phone box that can withstand the pressure of being lowered underwater to at least 4,500 …..” he said before adding in almost a whisper, “…. centimetres.
“I also planned to use only top shelf silicone sealant around the door once passengers were aboard. Brand name stuff, not cheap imitations,” he said.
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