THE COURTS:
The Bug’s finance and investment columnist Morrie Bezzle has appeared in a Brisbane court on a range of charges under consumer protection laws following hundreds of complaints to police from people who bought what they thought were tickets to US singing superstar Taylor Swift’s blockbuster concerts in Melbourne and Sydney.
Morrison Edison Ponzi Phar Lap Bezzle, age and address unknown, (below) pleaded not guilty to all charges during a brief committal hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Lewis Terry said hundreds of complaints had been received from people who told police that they had responded to TikTok videos posted online by Bezzle.
“Complainants told police that they had viewed Mr Bezzle’s videos and were left with the distinct impression that he was offering a chance to meet Taylor Swift,” Sergeant Lewis said.
“They claimed Mr Bezzle had led them to believe that he was offering variously priced tickets to fans ranging from $250 for a 10-minute meeting up to $1,250 for a full hour.
“However, investigations by police and the Queensland Office of Fair Trading revealed that fans who paid Mr Bezzle received in return an invitation for an online Zoom meeting and fitting consultation with a sales representative from Swift Tailors, a small menswear firm located in Hong Kong’s tailoring district.” (main picture)
Defending himself, Mr Bezzle sought an early trial “to ensure I can prepare for the Gladys night tour in March”.
Magistrate Madge E Strait granted bail and remanded Bezzle to appear again on a date to be set.
Outside the court Mr Bezzle said he also would be “vigorously defending” himself in the coming court case.
“This is yet more blatant victimisation of a genuine small business entrepreneur by shiny-arsed bureaucrats and crooked coppers,” he said.
Mr Bezzle explained that he was conducting his own defence because his usual legal adviser Dickie Shearman KC (below) was “taking a few months off” at what he described as “a shared waterfront residential facility” at Long Bay in Sydney.
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