WA:Fraud victims pursue banks

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2010
WA:Fraud victims pursue banks

PERTH, Aug 26 AAP - A man who allegedly stole millions of dollars from family investors
after persuading them to put money into his schemes must surrender his passport and arrange
a $150,000 surety.

When Mark Booty, 39, from Rockingham in Perth's south, appeared in Perth Magistrates
Court on Thursday on nine counts of fraud, some of his alleged victims turned up.

It is alleged the finance broker, who called himself Goldfingers, orchestrated a scam
to persuade people to remortgage their properties and put money into his investment scheme
for high returns.

He declared bankruptcy in 2009, owing $6.7 million.

The court ordered him to surrender his Australian passport and arrange $150,000 in bail surety.

Booty's case was remanded until October 7 so he could seek further legal advice.

Outside court, a daughter of one alleged victim called on banks to help people who had lost out.

Brenda Koupatsiaris was in court to represent her mother Ellen Wright and other people
who she says are fraud victims.

She told reporters her mother had lost about $400,000 and was likely to lose her unit,
while other people were losing their homes, life savings and superannuation.

"We need the banks to help us. We need them to come on board and be accountable," she said.

"Not one bank made phone calls to check that any of (the) details were correct."

Ms Koupatsiaris called on other alleged victims to come forward to consider launching
civil action.

AAP anr/ldj/it/cdh

KEYWORD: BOOTY

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