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Underbelly: TV Movies And Real Life Report, by Greg Tingle - 17th February 2011

2011-02-17T20:34:00.003+11:00

G'day punters, journos, entertainment news junkies, high rollers - casino whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, law enforcement agencies, legal eagles ... one and all. You know who you are. This is the TV Mini Movie Underbelly and Real Life Underbelly special!... Media Man and Gambling911 go beneath the underbelly of Australia's underworld, real and fake...

Underbelly 'Infiltration' A Hit...

The Underbelly telemovie 'Infiltration' has been well received by Australian audiences, but may insiders were expecting it to be a "piece of crap". The producers' task was huge...to create and shoot, interesting and suspense-filled drama based on the autobiographical book by former policeman Colin McLaren, who waged a covert campaign to bring down the Griffith-based mafia. Infiltration worked, and that casting of Sullivan Stapleton as McLaren was key. It was a tight, 3-week production. Stapleton was in nearly every one of the 200 plus scenes with little preparation. His rendering of the McLaren character solid to great. It was a portrayal of McLaren as gutsy, intuitive and fun - a bloke trying his best in the force, despite often internal problems in the department. Stapleton nailed it posing as an art dealer to infiltrate Calabrian gangsters tied to the death of anti-drug campaigner Donald Mackay. In addition, the casting of Jessica Napier as McLaren's colleague Jude backed it up. Jude's lingerie added spark and sexiness. Infiltration was very good to great, but how long can the Underbelly franchise keep going before it gets old? Mind you, James Bond has being going since the 60's, so maybe people will still be expecting the show's death in a few decades time.

Underbelly: Blood Brothers...

Our friends at Network Nine have commenced production on crime-based telemovie Blood Brothers. The 98 minute self-contained movie is based on Robin Bowles' book of the same name. The screenplay will be written by the amazing talent, Victoria Madden. Described as "a chilling portrait of crime and punishment, a compelling insight into human nature, and a relentless fight for justice", it will portray the horrific 1993 Gilham family murders. Lisa McCune (Blue Heelers, Sea Patrol), Tony Martin (False Witness, Wildside) and Michael Dorman (Daybreakers, Suburban Mayhem, The Secret Life of Us) will lead a cast which also includes Jonny Pasvolsky (Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities), Jodi Gordon (Home and Away) and Frank Holden (Police Rescue, Underbelly, The Strip). Dorman plays Jeffrey Gilham, who was convicted of manslaughter of his younger brother Christopher. He claimed to have killed Christopher in a fit of rage after his sibling murdered their parents. However, Gilham was in fact suspected of murdering them, despite no charges being handed down on him. The story is told beautifully from the perspective of both Tony Gilham, the boys' uncle played by Martin, who campaigned for 14 to clear Christopher’s name. And Margaret Cunneen, played by McCune, the Crown Prosecutor who found herself arguing a seemingly unwinnable case to eventually convict Gilham of the murders. "Blood Brothers is the compelling drama of a shocking family tragedy," stated Jo Horsburgh, Network Nine's head of drama. "I have no doubt that 17 years after these awful murders, the audience will still be divided in their opinions about the truth of what happened. "The Blood Brothers telemovie is another creatively satisfying collaboration with Playmaker."
Nine will partner with production company Playmaker Media, who also produced Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story for the network last year. "We are grateful for the support of the Nine Network, Screen Australia and Screen New South Wales," said David Taylor, Playmaker's principal alongside David Maher. "A great script has helped us attract an outstanding cast and one of Australia's leading directors, Peter Andrikidis (Underbelly, East West 101)." Production is set for just a few weeks away and insiders reckon it will air later this year on Network Nine of course, as the 9 dotter station attempts to be once again known by the masses as 'The One'.

Underbelly 'Tell Them Lucifer was Here' Ratings...

The first of the Nine Network's Underbelly telemovies, Tell Them Lucifer was Here, produced solid ratings for the broadcaster last week, but was nabbed in the final round by Channel Seven, says OzTAM numbers. Nine won the evening in primary channels, while in combined network shares, Seven took out total people and Nine won 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54. Underbelly averaged 1.377 million viewers, coming first in its timeslot and for the evening in total people, 18-49 and 25-54. It was second in 16-39. Bones proved to be a smart choice to go against the local crime franchise, holding up strong with 1.208m for Seven, while Brothers and Sisters tanked to 832.000. Ten struggled against the strong competition as Undercover Boss slumped to 608,000 and Good News Week returned to 461,000. Both programmes were 4th in their timeslot. In any event, viewers are getting treated to a great mix of crime drama and solid entertainment.

Underbelly's Babe Kassandra Clementi Could Be A Casino Babe If She Desires; Options Open For Hot Stuff Actress - Underbelly Files: Infiltration...

Underbelly's Kassandra Clementi plays one of the more goddess type characters in the TV series famous for being raunchy, but she has her own super sassy side (plus mind and body). Clementi, 20, plays Chelsea, the daughter of Colin McLaren, a Victorian detective who risked his life by going deep undercover within a local arm of the Calabrian mafia, in Underbelly Files: Infiltration. It's one of the more innocent roles in the racy crime franchise, known for its nudity and steamy scenes. "It's all pretty PG (for me)," she said. But Clementi shed the good girl image and amped up the sultriness in a fashion shoot of this season's animal prints, leather, feathers, and daring thigh-high boots. Clementi and her fellow actors met McLaren before filming the telemovie airing on Nine. "We all got to pump him full of questions. I wanted to get an understanding of Chelsea's home life, and the most important thing in her life, which was her father." Now the star of one of Australia's biggest shows, Clementi has her sights squarely set on the United States, with a hot and standout role in an American program in the works. The project is confidential you could say, but if all goes to the way she's mapped out, the Adelaide born-actress-babe, now based in Melbourne, will be causing waves this year, so blokes and babes, be prepared to be tantalised and titillated.

'No Ibrahim Link' To Sin City Sydney Gunfire...

Sydney coppers have now ruled out any link between a shooting in Sydney's south-west, and an attack on two members of the Ibrahim family just a night earlier. Police say 3 men were in a van at Leppington when shots were fired from a white Subaru car about 1:15am. A 39-year-old man sitting in the back of the van was shot in the stomach. The two men in the front were not injured, and they drove to a nearby house and called police. The injured man was taken to Liverpool Hospital where he is in a serious but stable condition. Police say there is no link to the previous night's attack on a nephew of nightclub owner John Ibrahim, Sam Sayour, and his cousin Gehad Hamid. The men were attacked on a suburban street at Old Guildford, and a third man was also shot. New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has complained that his officers are facing a wall of silence over the recent spate of shootings. He says even the smallest piece of information can help take guns off the street. "These crimes are not random attacks. Generally they're targeted and so they will always stay silent," Commissioner Scipione said. "What we need is people that are on the periphery, those that know just that little bit to come forward and talk to us. We will guarantee your anonymity and we will certainly investigate it."

Ibrahim Family: Real Life Underbelly?...

On 13th January this year, Kings Cross nightclub king John Ibrahim's mother Wahiba was on the front porch of her Merrylands home in Sydney's western suburbs. Also in the front yard were her bikie son Sam and the family's ever-present bodyguard, "Tongan Sam" Ngata. Before you know it a number of shots were heard and Ibrahim fell to the ground, a bullet wound in each thigh. The Ibrahims are a family under fire. Over the last couple of years 7 separate shootings have targeted both male and female members of the well know family and their associates. Two Ibrahim brothers were shot, one almost fatally. Even John Ibrahim's sisters are fair game, as are some relatives.
Research points to either some alleged bikie and / or drug links, and domestic - personal relationship matters also come up in the mix. Coppers believe the violence will go on for quite some time. "These things never end well . . . it's coming to a head somehow," a boy in blue shared. The first family member to be targeted in the most recent spray of violence was Fadi Ibrahim, shot at 5 times outside his Castle Cove home in 2009. Police have identified the man they think is behind the shooting, however he hasn't been charged as yet. The 2nd shooting occurred last November at the Ryde home of Armani Haddad, John Ibrahim's sister. Her house was sprayed with 25 bullets while she was at home with the kids. A police theory is that the drive by is linked to another...at the home of her husband's brother and that both happenings may be domestic-related. Sam Ibrahim came to comfort the situation. Now its Sam who has been attacked, just last month. He's a seasoned bikie and alleged attempts to reform the Nomads Parramatta chapter by recruiting members of the Notorious gang is one theory being talked about as a reason behind his shooting. Some think the reason may be more personal. Ibrahim's people notified police a jealous boyfriend of a woman who fell for Sam decided to take action with gunshot. Even young members of the Ibrahim family have also been targets recently. Hassan "Sam" Sayour (19-year-old Ibrahim nephew) and Jihad Hamid (23) shot on the street in Old Guildford just last Sunday. Two other shootings have targeted an Ibrahim family associate, Notorious Sergeant at Arms Saber Murad. In the first incident, last November, Murad was whacked by 2 bullets at his Doonside home. Police have charged two men, one a Comanchero, over that incident. Coppers talk a a "wall of silence" surrounding the attacks. Fadi and Sam Ibrahim and Armani Haddad have all politely declined to give statements to police about the crimes committed against them. Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell made a statement saying police deserve co-operation and respect. "Given the recent escalation in gang-related crime, it's vital everyone, victims and witnesses alike, do everything possible to put the perpetrators behind bars," he said. John Ibrahim has had his dash of trouble with some of the Comancheros. Some members had left a calling card and message by trashing one of Ibrahim's Kings Cross nightclubs 3 years back and there has been an ongoing turf war in the region between factions of the Comanchero and Notorious, particularly over the security industry at Kings Cross. When police quizzed a Comanchero member why John Ibrahim had been targeted, he replied: "It's time." Ibrahim has a past linked with associations with bikies and underworld figures, including former 'King of the Cross' Louis Bayeh. He has been charged with murder and threatening witnesses in cases against two of his brothers but all charges were dismissed. A law enforcement source said: "There have been attempts on John's life. Some of the Comanchero are behind it." For Ibrahim, life goes on...having refused offers of police protection. He goes just about everywhere with Tongan Sam, or a similar bodyguard type. Coppers don't believe that all the shootings are an attempt to get to Ibrahim, who recently told friends he was planning to get out of "nightclub promoting" and focus on property development. Any rumours of a venture into pokies or casinos are just small talk, but never say never. Property development sounds like a safer bet at this stage of the game.

Underbelly - what's real, what's media beat up, what's made for TV movies? You be the judge, jury and executioner. Bang Bang.

Don't change your dial punters. We will be back soon with more Real Life Underbelly and AussieWood Underbelly.

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

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Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

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Casino Cheat Gang In Court: Australia, Italy, UK, USA..., by Greg Tingle - 28th November 2010

2010-11-28T12:04:00.001+11:00

G'day punters, casino and gambling millionaires and billionaires, poker nuts, politicians, super whales, journalists, politicians... (and cheats!) one and all. Two of the world's most successful casino cheats have been stopped in their tracks, sort of, having had their day in court. They hit Australia, Britain, China, Italy and god knows where else, cheating casinos across the globe out of millions of dollars. Media Man and Gambling911 play Pink Panther, and Cluedo and Heist with this special report...

Two of the world's most successful international casino cheats have had their day in court.

The rumour mill says the duo, understood to be part of a larger casino crime group, enjoyed time down under in Australia, having a soft spot for both Crown Casino in Melbourne and Star City Casino in 'Sin City' Sydney.

Last Friday they faced court and admitted they possessed hell of a lot of fake IDs, which they used in land based casinos they were banned from across the world. It's understood they didn't target online casinos.

Using a clever global strategy, the pro active gang upper ranked Francesco Baioni, 64, and Frank Camilleri, 61, travelled the world cheating casinos out of a bucket load of money.

Police and other law enforcement had described them as "notorious" and "professional". The crooks have served time in America after cheating their way to "vast" amounts of cash.

Baioni, of Rackstraw House, Primrose Hill, was handed down a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months. Camilleri, of Derrick Road, Beckenham, was sentenced to nine months suspended for the same duration.

Both were also issued with an 18-month curfew between 11pm and 6am and were barred from all premises regulated by the Gambling Commission for 18 months.

Police would not discuss the tactics that landed the Italian duo so much money over the years but did reveal they had operated in countries including China, Australia America and Britain.

Roulette is understood to be a favorite of the duo, and industry talk is one of them would distract the dealer, and the other would move chips on the table into winning positions.

Both were busted on CCTV cameras at various central London casinos conducting reconnaissance visits, testing the water, and attempting to sign up for membership, using false identities. In one case, Baioni was filmed being refused membership at a casino after the false identity he was attempting to use was flagged up on the operator's computer system as "barred".

The daring pair were caught following an intelligence-led operation by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command. On August 9 search warrants were executed at their homes and Baioni was arrested.

Detectives discovered "a large quantity" of fake Italian identity papers containing pictures of Baioni and Camilleri. All had false names.

There were also tons of false identities awaiting pictures and individual passport photographs of both fellas prepared to be attached to the documentation. On August 23 Camilleri was arrested at Gatwick Airport when he flew back from Malta.

Casino crooks and shady figures in the gambling industry have often come unstuck at airports, and this helps explain why some casino tycoons in the likes of Malta, Cyprus and Antigua do not travel on commercial airliner. Sometimes their private aircraft have also been intercepted.

Both crooks were charged and just last month Baioni admitted 9 counts of possessing false documents with intent, possessing articles for use in fraud, and making articles for use in fraud. Camilleri admitted 8 counts of possessing false ID documents with intent.

Remember, crime doesn't pay, unless you're very good at it. You're throw of the dice.

Awards...

It's been a big month for casino awards. Ok, as you read earlier, Macau's Altira Macau was awarded the prestigious Forbes Five Star Ratings for the second year in a row, so Packer and the Ho family continue to work their magic.

PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)

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Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Did you enjoy learning all about the international casino fraudsters? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.

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Australian Casino News: Burswood Casino Patrons Targets For Crime, by Greg Tingle - 12th November 2010

2010-11-12T18:40:00.001+11:00

Australia, namely Perth, and its Burswood Casino aka Burswood Entertainment Complex is the subject of today's extremely disturbing news report. The Western Australian Police Force, the casino and patrons are looking for solutions on how to stop an apparent crime wave that is seeing criminals target Burswood patrons. Media Man and Gambling911 with not what you want to hear, but what you need to know...

Police in Perth, West Australia are confident that criminals appear to be targeting people as they leave the James Packer - Crown Limited owned Burswood Casino.

West Australian Police are investigating a number of attacks on women who were apparently followed home from the casino in the wee hours of yesterday morning and had their handbags and contents stolen.

Sergeant Graham Clifford advised that in both cases the women were about to open the front door at their homes in Fremantle and Cannington when they had their handbags nabbed from their person.

"We don't believe the two incidents are connected with the victims but by the same token it would appear that some of the criminals out there are taking advantage of people when they leave the casino and attacking them when they are by themselves just about to enter their home," he said.

Police are now also investigating a third incident where a woman was targeted by the thieves.

The woman has contacted WA police saying she was attacked just outside her home in Warnbro this morning after returning from the casino.

It is understood she had several thousand dollars in her bag.

Gaming industry insiders strongly believe that the latest string on attacks in Perth will see more people stay at home and play slots, poker and other games online, such is the current perceived risk of a visit to Burswood. Media Man and Gambling911 both feature and review some online casinos available for Australians.

Police say further information about the thieves will be released soon.

WA Police, Media Man and Gambling911 encourage Burswood Casino patrons to please take precautions at the casino and on your journey back home.

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Readers, what would you do with the situation at Burswood Casino? Will this news see you more likely to play casino games on the internet? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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American Wiseguys; Australian Wiseguys Uprising?, by Greg Tingle - 4th October 2010

2010-10-05T08:34:00.000+11:00

Wiseguy hey? What is a wiseguy? The United States has them... heard of 'The Mob'? So does Italy. The casino and larger gambling industry is understood to be home to a few "wiseguys", some recently busted lurking in the entertainment - ticketing sector, and now speculation rises as to who may be a wiseguy down under in Australia. Media Man and Gambling911 load up the Cadillac, shovels, knock squad and navigate the odd horses' head with this special 'Wiseguys" report...

American Wiseguys online ticketing scheme...

Legal eagles for a foursome of Americans accused of illegally purchasing more than 1 million concert tickets online, then going on to sell them for a massive $30 million profit, are seeking to have the case thrown out of court.

The four Californian natives are charged with the serious offences of conspiracy and fraud.

They are accused of bypassing safeguards meant to restrict the number of tickets each customer can buy.

The US government alleges their company... wait for it...Wiseguy Tickets, resold the tickets for $30 million in estimated profit.

According to a 43-count indictment unsealed in March of this year, the foursome used a nationwide network of computers to flood websites such as Ticketmaster and Major League Baseball and even developed a computer program that could automatically get past web pages that require purchasers to manually type in sample words before they can proceed. Cleaver cookies hey.

The quad squad focused on highly coveted premium tickets to high-profile events such as concerts by Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews and Hannah Montana and sporting events such as the baseball playoffs, the 2009 Sugar Bowl and the 2007 BCS college football championship game, federal authorities have gone on record with.

The case is being prosecuted in New Jersey as many of the live events were held at Giants Stadium, Izod Centre and Prudential Centre; others were spread across the United States at venues in New York City, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tampa, Florida, according to the indictment.

Kenneth Lowson, Kristofer Kirsch and Faisal Nahdi, all of LA, and Joel Stevenson, of Alameda, California, face charges that include conspiracy, wire fraud and unauthorised computer access.

The wire fraud counts are the most serious and carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years per count upon conviction.

Lowson, Kirsch and Stevenson have been freed on bail since their arrests, while Nahdi is a fugitive and is believed to be abroad... on the run, as they say.

Mark Rush, a lawyer for Lowson, argued in federal court on Monday that the foursome might have violated websites' terms of service - use, but are not liable under existing federal law.

Federal prosecutors sought to play down the unusual nature of the men's alleged crimes.

"We see cases like this in federal court all the time," Assistant US Attorney Erez Lieberman said during a motion hearing before US District Judge Katherine Hayden.

Lieberman said the defendants "lied, lied and lied some more" when they purchased tickets using hundreds of fake internet domain names and created a method of bypassing safeguards meant to limit the number of tickets available to individual buyers.

"Each and every step of the way it was a traditional fraud," Lieberman said.

The judge heard arguments on the defence's motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that federal law does not cover what Rush said were merely violations of the terms of use on internet sites including Ticketmaster.

Rush argued that while the defendants' actions might be deemed unsavoury to say the least, they did not rise to the level of criminal activity but should more appropriately be taken up as a civil matter.

"This isn't Ticketmaster versus Wiseguy, but perhaps it should be. But it shouldn't be the United States of America versus Wiseguy. Congress has not criminalised ticket brokers or ticket scalpers. What if they hired 100,000 people to all get on the site at the same time? Would we be here?" Rush asked.

"Or was it because it was a computer? If we are struggling to figure out if this is a violation of federal criminal law, then the indictment should be dismissed."

Australian Wiseguys Background And Uprising?...

Australian history books show a bit of ticketing "funny business" going back to Harry M. Miller circa 1982, with Computicket but that's ancient history now. If you want to find out more about Harry and Computerticket, you can buy his book 'Confessions of a Not-So-Secret-Agent'.

Speculation is rife about who is, or will be, the new breed of Australian born and breed "Wiseguys".

Casino, gambling and sports betting types have likely heard of the "Australian Gumleaf Mafia", but are they also the "Aussie Wiseguys"?

It's often been joked that "The Mafia" runs American media, Hollywood and Australia's entertainment, gambling, but how much is talked up and what's fact or fiction can be very difficult to ascertain.

Talk around 'Sin City' Sydney of late speculates that Kings Cross nightclub owner - operator John Ibrahim may be described as a "wiseguy". What is interesting is that in July 2009, Ibrahim's bodyguard, Semi "Tongan Sam" Ngata, was arrested following a raid on his home by a special gang violence taskforce that netted bulk quantities of a methamphetamine precursor. Ibrahim is portrayed by Firass Dirani in the 2010 television miniseries Underbelly: The Golden Mile. Media Man talent, part time bodyguard, and new 'Aussie Gumleaf Mafia' recruit, John 'Vulcan' Seru, also featured with Dirani on a number of 'Underbelly' episodes last season. A few months back Durani scored a role opposite Robert Di Niro in 'The Killer Elite'. Readers will recall that it was De Niro who played Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal) in the Martin Scorsese film 'Casino'. Ah, small world isn't it.

So, who are Australia's real life 'Wiseguys'? Are they more likely to be Harry M. Miller types? 'Gumleaf Media types', sports betting fixes seen around the Australian - Indian - Pakistan cricket matches, or more of the types that are invisible to all but those in the underworld? We would suggest the later wiseguys!

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Punters, a friendly reminder... bet with your head, not over it, and have fun... Wiseguys!

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.

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Australian Casino Brawls: Crown Casino Battle Royal, by Greg Tingle - 1st September 2010

2010-09-01T17:00:00.001+10:00

Australian casinos of the land based variety continue to maintain their status as a place to find Aussie biffo - fights and the like. James Packer owned Crown Casino in Melbourne was recently the venue for a bit of unscheduled no holds barred WrestleMania meets UFC. The strong arm of the law has come down hard on the thugs sending the message that mugs and trouble makers will no longer be tolerated and the world famous casino. The only fighting in future will take place in a ring and punters will have to purchase tickets Media Man and Gambling911 take you front row ringside and court side... ding ding ding...let's get ready to rumble...

It's the best of 2/3 falls pin or submission, in this fight to a finish. No holds barred, barbed wire and razor blades (just kidding) match up as the Australians take on the Iraqis. Your special referee is Sergeant Slaughter.

A threesome of brothers who brawled with Crown casino security staff aka 'bouncers' were yesterday convicted and fined in excess of $10,000 grand.

Ex Iraqi refugees, the 3 main tag team of Hemdad, Bestoon and Ghamber Muhammad pleaded guilty to a charge of "affray" (legal jargon for fighting and running a muck)... no fights were scheduled as part of the festivities, not officially anyway.

Swinging now to court side...Melbourne Magistrates Court heard they were rejected from Fusion nightclub at roughly 1.40am on 23rd January last year before they joined a bakers dozen of other combatants in fighting with about 5 casino staff.

The Muhammad brothers threw numerous bare knuckle punches in a brawl that lasted only about two minutes before reinforcements settled down the offenders. It was quite the street fight, with no sign of bodyslams, suplexes, triangle chokes or Indian death locks. It's understood a variation of a collar and elbow hooks up, Irish whip and good old fashioned side headlock was used, but wrestling and MMA purists would not have been impressed. Maybe Mike Tyson and Stone Cold Steve Austin might have gave marks for aggressive force used in the encounter.

Quizzed his reason for the blue, Hemdad, 29, told cops "Because of my brothers. I was too drunk. I got my lesson".

Defence lawyer Emma 'No Bull (MM tag) Turnbull told the court her fighters er...clients, who did not normally drink or fight, had been celebrating Bestoon's birthday.

Turnbull said none of them had any memory of the incident which was spontaneous, did not involve weapons, and did not cause serious injuries.

'No Bull' told the court the trio, who worked as painters and had no prior convictions, fled Iraq circa 1988 and spent a decade in refugee camps before finally arriving in Australia.

Magistrate Tim 'The Master' (MM tag) McDonald advised such behaviour happened too often in the community and told the trio, from Deer Park, they would have received a jail term if they had not pleaded guilty. Their strategy of pleading guilty goes against the oath of legendary Australian 'Underbelly' figure Mark 'Chopper' Read' who says "Never Plead Guilty".

Hemdad and Bestoon were fined $4000 each while Ghamber was convicted and fined $2500.

None of the brothers have immediate plan to enter the MMA, boxing or professional wrestling world, but word has spread to the organisations who are always on the look out for new, exciting talent who stands out from the pack.

The trio would not comment on whether they preferred the Cleopatra, Street Fighter, Sumo or Hitman slot games.

Media Man and Gambling911 wish the threesome good fortunes with their endeavors, be it painting, martial arts, one armed bandits pokies or other.

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Readers, play nice, know the odds, bet with your head, not over it, and have fun. Good punting, and don't drink too much.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming.

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

*This article is done with satire and humour, and is based on real life events. No disrespect is intended towards any of the competitors.

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Underbelly Real Life With Pokies And Gunfire, by Greg Tingle - 14th August 2010

2010-08-15T17:42:00.000+10:00

Australian casino news sees the crime theme level hit fever pitch. With a script right out of Hollywood, Melbourne sees real life Underbelly return, with bloodshed, bullets and a pokies connection. The Underbelly scenario follows yesterday's report of Melbourne Crown Casino Chinatown high rollers getting busted for drugs, a curious casino chips connection and the works. Media Man and Gambling911 once again don the bullet proof vests and call on the sniffer dogs with this special report from the war zone. 3, 2, 1 rolling and action...

Underbelly real life has appeared to return to the now mean streets of Melbourne, down under in Australia.

Evening peak hour traffic in downtown Lygon Street, Carlton. One Aussie bloke dead as wood inside the doorway of a pokies pub, another fella lying on the footpath outside the venue. A gunman darts across a public park, reloading his weapon on the run.

The deceases were said to be middle aged, both gunned down at close range. A 3rd man was has been detained in custody, being questioned over the murders.

Earlier that fateful day, in another part of Melbourne, another man lay dead. Just before 11am, a gunman jumped out of a sedan in Conifer Avenue, Brooklyn, in the city's industrial western region. He strolled towards the bearded figure of Macchour Chaouk, who was standing in his backyard, and fired several rounds into his chest.

Everyone is looking to see if there is connection between the two bloody baths. Let us also recall the Crown Casino Chinatown crims who got busted for drug dealing around the same period, with a somewhat casino chip connection, often spotted in Crown's Mahogany Room (they won't be coming back to play nor mingle).

65-year-old Chaouk, a Lebanese - Australian man with the rep of a low-mid level crime boss, had died a violent death. Police made little secret that they were looking closely at a rival crime family, which had been engaged in a vicious turf war with the Chaouk clan. Turf is often associated with the patch used for drugs, distribution, deals... you get the idea.

Melbourne police advised a 57-year-old Altona North man was arrested over the shooting at a residential address in Altona North.

Chaouk had served time in the slammer for a for number of drug offences and was charged and acquitted of murdering a drug dealer. The crime figure was involved in two blood feuds: one against the notorious Haddara family; another against Victoria Police force, who in circa 2005 shot dead his son Mohamed when its officers raided their suburban Brooklyn home.

It was last month when papa and two surviving sons, Omar and Waleed, were arrested and guns were confiscated in a series of raids by coppers. It came within a couple of weeks of a drive-by shooting in a nearby suburb that left Sam Haddara with nasty facial wounds. Omar was charged, and reluctantly bailed by magistrate Fiona Stewart on the grounds he avoid the family home.

"There is an ongoing war between two families and the court should be extremely worried about the danger posed to the community by it," Stewart said.

These happenings bring back memories of Alfonse Gangitano and Lewis Moran's Carlton Crew.

The shootings took place in Players on Lygon, a pokies den across the road from Argyle Square. Witnesses to the shootings say they heard between five and eight shots above the noise of rush-hour traffic.

Reloading the weapon as he ran for his life, the killer dressed in midnight black, reached the other side of the popular park before giving up the pursuit.

He then strolled back across the park and into the pokies venue. Several more gun shots were heard in the region. He has returned apparently to finish the job, perhaps engulfed in hate and fueled by the smell of blood.

Homicide Detective Sergeant Wayne Woltsche said the shooting as "outrageous and callous." He said he didn't believe there was a connection between this crime and the earlier murder.

"Two people have been shot in the streets of Melbourne. It is a fairly callous crime. Whether it is an execution, I cannot say."

Police sealed off the Lygon Street crime scene, they were still preping to remove Macchour Chaouk's body from his Brooklyn house under police guard.

Footage captured from a Network Nine helicopter showed Chaouk's wife, dressed in Islamic black, prostrating herself on her husband's body as it lay covered by a sheet in backyard on the family home.

Abour an hour and a half after the murders, three kids, aged one, three and five, who were inside when the killing occurred, were taken from the home, wrapped in what looked to be blankets.

Twenty minutes later, after the arrival of a grey assault vehicle, an army of 11 heavily armed Special Operations Group police officers entered the home to make it safe for detectives, forensic experts and the like.

Family and friends, including 19-year old offspring Omar, still on bail waiting to face weapons, drugs and fraud charges, waited outside for many hours after the shooting as police sealed off the area to the public and curious types. He was not allowed inside until a touch after 3pm.

An aging neighbour heard shouting and several rapid-fire gun shots at the house, on the corner of Geelong Road and Conifer Avenue, just before 11am. Schools in the area locked students in their classrooms, neighbours advised they were not surprised by the killing. They were also aware of the strong potential for further gunfire and murders in their neighbourhood, with one sharing, "It will never end now."

Several described Chaouk as a "friendly man", although all were aware of his family's criminal reputation and then some. "He was always pleasant to me," one man said. "I guess you don't shit in your own nest."

Detective Superintendent Murray Fraser said that at 10.55am a gunman stepped out of a car in Conifer Avenue and fired several shots through the back gate, killing Chaouk. Attempts were made to revive him, but he was dead as before paramedics arrived.

Quizzed whether inquiries were centred on the family feud, Superintendent Fraser went on record with "That's a fairly obvious inference to draw at the early stages. At this stage there is no evidence that we can really rely on to take that matter any further but we have to look at that as an avenue of inquiry, no doubt . . . and we will obviously have to keep an open mind."

Probed if he thought there would be revenge attacks, he shared "That's an issue that we have to plan for. There has been a history of conflict involving the Chaouk family."

Before yesterday, the most violent make up of that history had been the drive-by murder of Mohammed Haddara in June last year. Chaouk's 22-year-old nephew, Ahmed Hablas, was charged.

Hablas's legal eagle, Alan Swanwick, advised his client feared for his life in custody as members of the Haddara family had vowed to take revenge. Those fears will be heightened considerable be it Chaouk id dead.

Back to the Lygon Street killings, suspicions are of an unrelated drug deal gone to *hit.

Lygon Street may never be quite the same, and no doubt these real life 'Underbelly' happenings are ongoing to boost interest in the Network Nine smash hit. Insiders say they will include the pokies connection, and perhaps also draw upon more history with Crown Casino, having a hard time stopping the rumor mill. The TV version of 'Underbelly' has yet more material to work with, as it prepares to screen the Brisbane and Gold Coast - Surfers' Parasise versions.

Unfortunately this 'Underbelly' themed report is real life and we call for calm.

The Late News...

Crown Casino coopering with Australian state and federal police

Melbourne CBD in lockdown mode

Underbelly happenings boost popularity of The Godfather and Hitman slot games

More arrests likely

Victoria, Mildura - Jewel Casino Proposal Getting To Next Level...

A Mildura based community group will round up the troops and assemble to support a Mildura casino following an impressive presentation from champion casino pitch man and developer Don Carrazza this week. "CasinoMeister" (Media Man tag) Carrazza spoke to more than 50 punters at The Office Wine Bar and Lounge re the positive progress of the Mildura Jewel convention centre project aka Jewel Casino... you got to love those long names and the adds ons to add value. Many people at the meeting responded saying a community group should be established to help gather support for the prop and also gain bi-partisan (both Labor and Liberal parties) support. A subsequent meet up for this Monday was arranged to assemble the passionate mob er group. Carrazza told the gathering Mildura’s community needed to show support for the casino. "Mildura at the moment needs a boost. We lost 60,000 acres of land with irrigation; that’s got to be replaced. If we stuff around for too long the people who want to fund this project will walk away. As a community we have to make these politicians understand what we want" said the likable pitch man.

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Wrap Up...

Readers, do you think the police are tough enough on the real life 'Underbelly' types? Crown Casino should ride off the publicity and get an Underbelly or Kerry Packer themed slot game? What's your predication for the next colourful crime to happen at an Australian land based casino? Should the Mildura Jewel Casino proposal go ahead? What's your favorite casino games and why? Tell us in the forum.

Crown Casino Connection Colourful Crimes...

'Crown Casino Client Ferrari Stolen With Virgin Valet'
http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/crown-casino-client-ferrari-stolen-virgin-valet-051410.html

'Crown Casino Shaft Man Probed and Charged'
http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/crown-casino-shaft-man-probed-and-charged-080310.html

Readers, know the odds, bet with your head, not over it, and have fun. Don't mix your passion for casinos and gaming with crime, and don't do anything we wouldn't do.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming.

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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Crown Casino Chinatown Crime Figures Busted, by Greg Tingle - 13th August 2010

2010-08-14T11:06:00.000+10:00

Australian casino news sees the crime theme continue with this report that a major Aussie - Chinatown criminal syndicate has been busted. Casino chips, drugs, guns... you name it. Crown Casino has been attracting colourful and worldwide headlines of late, and this latest turn of events is no exception. Media Man and Gambling911 call on the sniffer dogs. Something fishy in Chinatown and in Crown's VIP mahogany room. Pink Panther, Naked Gun and Heist to the scene...

A Crown Casino VIP high roller and a Chinatown restaurateur personality are accused of heading up a Melbourne crime syndicate targeted by police over the past 48 hours in a series of explosive raids, arrests and record-breaking asset seizures.

The alleged crime bosses of the multi-million dollar Melbourne drug ring that spent massive sums on property, gambling and overseas interests are set to appear in court after overnight out-of-sessions hearing.

Crown Casino high roller Thi Nho Le and husband Thanh Hai Pham, both 46, spent the night in police cells with 6 other alleged members of the syndicate.

Police allege it trafficked more than 30 kilograms of heroin in Melbourne and earned over $20 million in the past 9 months.

Named and known as the Le Syndicate after the family that allegedly controls it, Ms Le's younger sister Thi Nho Em Le, her brother and their partners all faced a court hearing at St Kilda Road police complex early yesterday morning.

Thi Nho Em Le's partner, businessman and restaurateur Kai Sin Mong, is also alleged to be a key player in the syndicate that police state has built a business empire including a Chinatown restaurant and a western-suburbs based petrol station.

The group is accused of manufacturing and distributing large amounts of heroin, from locations including a flat in Napier Street, Fitzroy, laundering money and loaning money to other drug cartels and gamblers.

Detective Acting Sergeant James Cole told the court that members did business at James Packers' Crown Casino's high-roller Mahogany Room, purchased a number of properties and businesses to conceal the proceeds of crime and sent money offshore to Vietnam, including a recent whopping $920,000 money transfer.

This was allegedly used to create a multi-million dollar property portfolio, which may have been kicked along by plans to purchase a United States $2.5 million hotel.

The mob aka triad were among 21 people arrested in a series of raids at properties in Melbourne's western and inner-northern suburbs, including Fitzroy commission flats, after a painstaking 10-month investigation.

The Australian Crime Commission and Victoria Police operation, code-named Sethra, seized an estimated $3 million of heroin and about $20 million in houses and assets - a Victorian record.

All 8 accused, speaking through a Vietnamese interpreter during the out-of-sessions hearing, applied for bail, with most advising they had to care for their children or grandchildren.

Each alleged syndicate member, ages from 32 to 60, was deemed an unacceptable flight risk to say the least.

The court heard that the alleged drug ring operated partly out of the Napier Street commission flats, with Thi Nho Em Le, her brother Muoi Van Le and their partners sharing an apartment.

Detective Acting Sergeant Cole told the hearing that covert surveillance detected people regularly going there to purchase heroin.

One of the accused, Kim Thi Huynh, who lived in a nearby flat, allegedly used a minor (human - not bird breed) to pick up heroin that she then sold to street dealers.

Police allegedly recovered a modest $21,000 from the Le residence in Napier Street in yesterday's raids.

They also are understood to have located $345,970 in cash, $54,500 in Crown Casino chips and 350 grams of heroin.

A raid earlier this month on a Carlton flat linked to the syndicate allegedly netted police around $595,000 in cash, $50,000 in Crown Casino chips and 1.66 kilograms of heroin.

This allegedly prompted Thi Nho Le and her sister to discuss selling the property without ever returning there, in a conversation captured on phone intercepts and relayed to the court.

Thi Nho Le and Thanh Hai Pham, of Keilor Downs, and Thi Nho Em Le, Kai Sin Mong, Muoi Van Le and Nea Thi Pham, of Fitzroy, all face charges relating to trafficking large commercial quantities of a "drug of dependence".

Houng Vo, of Fitzroy, faces one charge of trafficking a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence while Kim Thi Huynh faces a similar charge along with trafficking a drug of dependence to a child.

They will face Melbourne Magistrates Court, along with four other alleged members of the organisation who were charged with drug related offences in and bailed in.

The syndicate is 1 of many connected multimillion-dollar crime cells targeted by the ACC and police agencies in Melbourne and Sydney in the 7. It's understood only a small amount of these crime fun and and games were covered in Network Nine hit 'Underbelly', next season tipped to cover Brisbane as well as the Gold Coast.

ACC national manager Richard Grant alleged that "this is a group that, not that long ago, we seized 5 blocks of heroin and $645,000 cash and this group didn't miss a heartbeat".

Victoria Police sources advised the operation was successful due to the powers and reach of the small but powerful ACC, which targets Australia's most senior crime figures.

The $40 million in assets expected to be seized in Operation Sethra equates to almost half the ACC's yearly budget! Go the bean counters.

The operation flowed from an earlier ACC inquiry into the movement of suspected drug money offshore via money remitters, international airline staff and bank transfers.

The 2005 inquiry, code-named Gordian-Katakan, confirmed that the majority of illicit drug shipments enter down under Australia undetected and are then distributed for massive profits, often sent offshore. The inquiry uncovered more than a dozen drug-trafficking cells operating down the east coast, netting hundreds of millions of dollars.

Victoria Police Detective Inspector Doug Potter said further arrests would be made.

"The syndicate that has been operating in Melbourne has international links and we will be following up a number of inquiries in regards to those links."

Crown Casino powers that be have been cooperating with Police and the crime syndicate arrests are music to the ears of Crown. The Mahogany Room will not miss the alleged triad element.

A leak advised, "Crown loves their whales and high rolling VIPs, but not those engaged in criminal enterprises. Crown is focused on a total entertainment experience and undesirables are not welcome. It's been out pleasure to assist Australian and international law enforcement agencies".

Crown Casino is considering if they should upgrade their casino chips policy and procedures.

The Late News...

Crown Casino (and Burswood Entertainment Complex in WA) budgets to further open up, partly in response to aggressive moves and counter strike by Australia's other gaming giant, Tabcorp. Crown Casino is playing its cards right with Australian government powers that be. Crown Casino security is frequently reviewed and a repeat case of a client's Ferrari been nicked has odds of about 1 in a million, so the Crown bar talk says. Crown is aware that Aussie punters would like to see an online and / or offline Kerry Packer, 'Underbelly', and Mark Webber - Red Bull themed slot game. PartyGaming NextGen Gaming and IGT online games are on the radar of Crown Limited. PartyPoker b2b online poker satellite qualifiers likely to start again circa November 2010, ready for January 2011 'Aussie Millions'. PartyGaming is tipped to give away more Aston Martin's and Maserati's following the PartyCasino 'Grand Win Auto' and PartyPoker 'Drive The Dream' promotions, but Media Man and others reckon Party should get a deal in place with Ferrari pronto.

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Wrap Up...

Readers, do you think Crown Casino should ride off the publicity and get an Underbelly or Kerry Packer themed slot game? What's your predication for the next colourful crime to happen at an Australian land based casino? Should online casinos like PartyCasino, PKR Casino and Virgin Casino plug more into the casino crime connection? Tell us in the forum or jump on Twitter and see if you can create your own version of Twitter-Gate.

Crown Casino Connection Colourful Crimes...

'Crown Casino Client Ferrari Stolen With Virgin Valet'
http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/crown-casino-client-ferrari-stolen-virgin-valet-051410.html

Background on the Crown Casino shaft man case...

'Crown Casino Shaft Man Probed and Charged'
http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/crown-casino-shaft-man-probed-and-charged-080310.html

Readers, know the odds, bet with your head, not over it, and have fun. Don't mix your passion for casinos and gaming with crime, and don't do anything we wouldn't do.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming.

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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Gunned Down Casino Model Holly Graham Finally Faces Crazed Ex In Court, by Greg Tingle

2010-08-11T15:48:00.001+10:00

Australian casino news remains all the rage, with crime, revamps and politics dominating the news. Today we update you on Australia's Star City Casino gunman and the ex casino model who is moving forward with her life, beating the odds. Media Man and Gambling911 give you a front row seat at the courtroom.

Star City Casino Gunman Stared Down In Court; Ex Casino Model Moves Forward With Life...

Former model Holly Graham has faced the violent and crazed ex-boyfriend who aimed a hand gun at her and opened fire at Sydney's Star City Casino.

This was the first time the 30-year-old former model and fitness instructor had seen Todd Devaney since he attempted to murder her on 5th May 2008.

She was overheard whispering to her parents that she was "scared". The still attracting and brave Holly said it was important that she was there at the District Court in Sydney when he finally pleaded guilty to the crime.

Holly had not seen the mongrel for close to 5 years on the day she was shot, having cut off their troubled relationship in August 2004.

One needs little imagine to how frightened Holly was when he suddenly emerged inside the exclusive Star City gym, accessible only by members and casino guests.

Devaney proceed to move his right hand from behind his back and revealed a gun, which he cold bloodily pointed at the middle of Holly's, "like something out of the movies", before shooting 3 rounds.

The then casino model turned and ran for her life, "never been so scared".

Round 1 passed through her ribs and a 2nd shattered a glass window. The 3rd hit Holly's lower abdomen and exited close to her right hip.

She was certain death was coming with medical records documenting she was extremely lucky to have not passed away.

Evidence emerged that a casino cleaner who witnessed the shooting advised Devaney turned towards him after opening fire "seeming confident and not afraid as he placed the pistol into his backpack and walked to the fire exit door."

On his way out of the casino he has the nerve to ask a staff member for directions, this time appearing "breathless". Soon after police cornered him in a nearby street where he was sweating profusely and had put on a fake moustache and beard attempting to hide this true identity. Needless to say it didn't work.

In the crims clothing were 3 guns, a latex face mask, a police badge and a set of rosary beads.

A police search of his backpack revealed yet another another police badge, multiple rounds of ammunition, gloves, a balaclava, a black wig and two Star City swipe cards - one to access the gym.

He had gone to some effort to plan and get away with the murder, however his devious vision had been foiled. He was known to be a dangerous and edgy individual and some people were not surprised the evil one has attempted such a crime.

Devaney pleaded guilty to shooting Holly with intent to murder her and 3 counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm.

Outside the court, with a brave smile, Holly said she was lucky to have made a full recovery and that seeing Devaney again had been "nerve-wracking".

"I'm very, very happy he has pleaded guilty. I wanted to hear the words. It means he accepted what he did. I just hope he's put away for a long time."

Happy Holly said she had to summon all of her courage to see him and was helped by her parents and a male friend.

Those close to the former model advise she is moving forward with her life in leaps and bounds.

Media Man has confirmed that security at Star City has been beefed up considerably at the premises since the shooting.

Devaney will be sentenced in red October.

Greg Tingle of Media Man Int. is a Special Contributor to the Gambling911.com Website

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Australia's Most Dangerous Casino?, by Greg Tingle - 30th July 2010

2010-07-30T16:01:00.001+10:00

Australian land based casino and pubs, clubs and hotels have a bit of a reputation as not exactly totally safe places to hang out. Some of the dangers of land based casinos in Australia were touched on in the Productivity Report into gaming, but new findings further back this up with the Gold's Coast's Jupiters getting the most heat. Media Man and Gambling911 bring in the bodyguards with bullet proof vests, baton sticks and plastic handcuffs at the ready with this special report...

Australia's Conrad Hotel and Casino on the Gold Coast is now considered one of the world's most dangerous occurring to numerous Media Man informers who don't wish to be named (funny that).

This news follows the trial of the Star City Casino gunman as reported in Gambling911 just two days ago.

Some commentators say Monte Carlo may be home to the world's most dangerous casino, with a couple of casinos on the U.S Las Vegas Strip giving them a run for their money. High profile incidents like a celebrity committing a crime at a casino, like the O.J Simpson matter in Vegas and Van der Sloot might raise the profile of a casino, but it doesn't mean that they are the most dangerous, as there are a number of criteria to judge... bashings and assaults, deaths and injuries, theft, guns and / or knives and so it goes on.

iGaming insiders sometimes joked that Grand Prive, Lucky Ace, Platinum Partners were the most dangerous online casino brands! Last year Casino Tropez was an online casino hangout for a players who went on to commit murder, but that shouldn't mean that that casino was dangerous - just not good luck for the player or casino on that matter. More about these cases in the Media Man online casino reviews and of course Gambling911 has an expensive Gambling News and Casino Crime section on their website portal.

Gambling 911 Star City Casino Gunman news
http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/australian-new-zealand-gambling-news-july-28-2010-072810.html

'Casino Model Holly Graham revelled'
http://www.mediamanint.com/articles/casino_model.html

Jupiters Hotel and Casino on the Gold Coast - Broadbeach to be precise, is the most dangerous casino in Queensland, and one of the world's most dangerous casinos occurring to numerous sources to afraid to provide names. Jupiter's recorded more than double the number of assaults as the Treasury Casino in Queensland's biggest city, Brisbane, last year.

Queensland Police numbers released under a Right To Information application have disclosed more than 1 offence was committed on average per day at the casino in 2009 including serious assaults, rape, extortion, stalking, fraud, car stealing, theft and a huge number of liquor and drunkenness offences. Get that, 1 offence per day folks!

Some 30 assaults were listed in the charges, including 18 incidents considered grievous or serious, in comparison to a total of "only" 13 assaults in Conrad Treasury Casino in Brisbane, 4 assaults in The Reef Hotel and Casino in Cairns, and just 2 in Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino.

Among the more than 350 charges were 35 odd offences against the person, 92 offences against property and 230 other charges including drugs, drunkenness and good order, or minor, offences.

Full details on the the deaths, guns and knives cases are not in the public domain.

The local Mermaid Beach Member For Parliament Ray Stevens (Media Man tag "The Crippler") advised the casino was by a country mile the biggest 24-hour venue in the state so it was not surprising there were a ton of incidents.

"It also shows an attitude of zero tolerance," he said, balancing the scales.

"I suppose the concerning thing is (assaults) were double the number for the Brisbane Treasury."

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd, owner of Jupiters (formally Conrad) advised 15,000 people a day visited the Gold Coast based casino which was about 5.5 million a year compared to about 3 million who visited the Brisbane casino owned by the gaming giant. Tabcorp remains the major competitor to Crown Limited in the Australian gaming sector.

The casino advised press it operated on a "0 tolerance" approach towards illegal and undesirable behaviour and had one of the best surveillance systems available in the world. Surveillance involves more than just the famed "Eye In The Sky" and casino bouncers aka "gorillas in suits".

"Combined with highly trained staff and constant vigilance means that detection rates of illegal and undesirable behaviours are very high," said the PR release.

All incidents were reported to police and to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.

The presser said casino safety and security officers often responded to incidents outside the venues, providing emergency assistance, first-aid and contacting police.

"It is important to note that in 2009 over 8.5 million people visited the southeast Queensland casinos," it noted.

"Therefore, the total number of incidents reported to the Queensland Police during that time represents just .02% of the total number of visitors."

Gold Coast police superintendent Jim Keogh, told News Limited it was difficult to compare the figures between the two cities.

"The Gold Coast (casino) would be busier than Brisbane. They are worlds apart. Brisbane seems to cater for a different demographic."

A Media Man spokesperson said "What type of demographic is attracted to Conrad Jupiters is open to interpretation. I've been there myself, thankfully with no incidents. The numbers don't lie, but Jupiter's do bring in a lot of punters and tourists, so there's going to be incidents from time to time. Still, one case per days still seems high. Not as high we understand at Star City in Casino or Crown Casino in Melbourne. At least the Tabcorp powers that be are aware of the situation and are taking action, rather than closing their eyes and ears to the matter. I guess the Aussie casino wars continue to evolved, this time with security and crime being a sub sector of the wars. We commend the take no prisoners and zero tolerance mantra and policy".

Punters, er readers, stay glued to Media Man reports via Gambling911 for more "can't miss" information on Australian and global casino wars, land based and online.

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Online casinos, perhaps recognizing the sometimes crime link with land based casinos, going back to 'The Mob' in Vegas and Chicago have a number of game titles with dangerous titles such as The Godfather, Hitman, Heist, Mafia Millions, Predator, High Noon and Resident Evil? Just good Hollywood fun or something perhaps more sinister? In the meantime Aussies continue to call for an Underbelly and Kerry Packer themed slot game, but have to settle for Pink Panther within weeks and Andre The Giant likely before year end. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers. PartyGaming, Virgin Casino and Captain Cooks remain some of the world's must trusted, ethical and popular online casinos, with Party leading the charge down under followed by Captain Cook.

So, whether you prefer land based casinos or online, please take precautions. As always, know the odds, bet with your head, not over it, and have fun. Good luck.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming.

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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Former defendant in Vegas exec murder case paroled - 20th May 2010

2010-05-24T12:02:00.000+10:00

LAS VEGAS — A man who was convicted then acquitted of killing a well-known Las Vegas casino executive has been released on parole.

Richard "Rick" Tabish, 45, was required to find a job and live with his parents in Missoula, Mont., where parole agents will supervise him until his prison term ends in March, the governor's office said Monday.

"Thank goodness he was paroled to the state of Montana," said District Attorney David Roger, who prosecuted Tabish during his murder trial. "Hopefully, we'll never see Mr. Tabish in Las Vegas again."

Tabish gained notoriety at his sensational Las Vegas murder trial in 2000, when he and co-defendant Sandra Murphy were convicted of murdering 55-year-old Ted Binion at his Las Vegas home in 1998 and stealing from his vault.

The trial wove together tales of greed, drugs, sex, money and casino lore.

Murphy, a former stripper, was Binion's girlfriend. Tabish, Murphy's secret lover, was a contractor who helped Binion build an underground vault in the desert town of Pahrump to store his $7 million silver fortune.

Prosecutors alleged that Murphy and Tabish forced Binion to ingest lethal levels of heroin and the antidepressant Xanax before suffocating him.

Tabish and Murphy were later acquitted of the murder charges in 2004 after the Nevada Supreme Court granted a new trial. The second jury convicted them of charges related to silver theft.

Murphy was released for time already served and now lives in Laguna Beach, Calif. Tabish remained in prison on an extortion conviction. He was granted parole on Jan. 13 and released after officials reviewed his plan for re-entering society.

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Aussies With Gambling Problems Targeted To Run Drugs, by Greg Tingle - 16th May 2010

2010-05-16T13:46:00.000+10:00

It's an all too familiar theme to the pages of Gambling911, but the strong connection between casinos, gambling and crime continues. Media Man and Gambling911 probe the links with a focus on the Australian - Asia Pacific - Oriental connection...

Australians, many "new Australians" and desperate gamblers are being targeted by drug bosses in the Asia Pacific region.

Recently findings show that Australian and Oriental jails are filling up with the mules who crime lords recruit, and Aussie casinos and clubs are a known place of recruiting activity.

We've learned that many of the inmates had incurred gambling debts and elected (or were forced) to mule drugs, to pay back their debt accounts.

A mule can make up to 15k or 20k for a trip, but getting away with the crime is not so easy. Dozens of mules rot in Asian jails, most not getting any news media coverage.

NSW Police Force's Asian Crime Squad chief, Detective Acting Superintendent Scott Cook, advised that while heroin mules have become less common, vulnerable people are still being targeted.

"What we find generally is the recruiting for mules or people who are going to bring drugs back to Australia generally happens around a debt, or around some other need for money,".

The profile of a drug mule no longer resembles ambitious young persons in a hurry to wealth, scouts look at other types including gamblers.

Loan sharks and agents hang out at the clubs and casinos looking for gamblers to recruit.

The AFP has commenced pro active operations in Vietnam and a significant spike in numbers of Aussies has occurred.

The criminal element at a number of Australian hotels, pubs and casinos is understood to be just one of the reasons for the ongoing popularity of online casinos and online poker rooms, and sports betting on the internet continues at record levels. A number on Australian AFL and NRL players, and their friends, are understood to prefer TAB shop visits where they can pay cash, and bets are much more difficult to trace.

Media Man and Gambling911 remind the readership to keep gaming and gambling fun, and seek professional assistance if it starts to become a problem.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company

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Crown Casino Client Ferrari Stolen With Virgin Valet, by Greg Tingle - 14th May 2010

2010-05-14T15:52:00.000+10:00

Down under in Melbourne, Australia, one casino punter was feeling extremely lucky, pouncing on an opportunity to steal (not win) a Ferrari F430, when a casino valet handed him the keys. Media Man and Gambling911 follow the story in high speed pursuit...

Melbourne Police have now arrested the formally lucky punter after a Crown Casino valet mistakenly handed over the keys to a Ferrari F430 Spider and he took off for a joyride lasting half a day to Coolaroo of all places.

The 32-year cheeky fella was reportedly wearing a tracksuit when a casino valet gave him the keys to the bright red, V8 supercar about 12.30am today.

Police advise the punter drove north up the Tullamarine Freeway but was pinched by police about 6.30am as he fuelled up at a servo in Coolaroo, on Melbourne's outer northern region.

"He is currently assisting police with their inquiries," she said.

Forensic police will today examine the car, which has been towed to a holding yard in Campbellfield.

The attendant at the servo advised the man filled the beast up with petrol before police nabbed the bandit.

"He just filled up with petrol, came in here, paid for it and the cops were outside and just got him," he said.

"The cops I think were already after him."

The happening starting to generate a serious of state, national and international news stories, with Melbourne 3AW radio enjoying banter with a witness "Mark".

"Someone walked out of the casino past me and the security guard, got in and drove off,". The security guard said to me - because he only had an old tracksuit on - and he said 'you can't pick 'em can you'."

Crown Casino spokesman, top brass, Gary O’Neill said the incident was a first for the casino. He explained customers using valet parking were provided with a ticket to be returned to the casino parking attendant when time to collect your car.

"It has happened in the past from time to time that people lose their tickets, and in these circumstances we ask for proof of identification and a valid driver’s licence. Those procedures were followed on this occasion," he said.

"The procedures that we have followed in the past have not resulted in this particular incident, but that’s not to say our system is perfect," he said.

"We’re cooperating fully with the police investigation."

Mr O’Neill said the incident had been caught on film by their CCTV cameras and the footage would be handed over to police. Crown Casino is known for its world class security, as is it's Sydney competitor Star City. The Australian land casino industry was forced to upgrade security in recent years following a succession of undesirable incidents. Industry insiders sometimes joke about the plastic handcuffs initiative and footy and cricket stars getting pissed at casino events but this matter was very serious in nature. The casino wants its VIPs, high-rollers, whales and the like to know that their transport is in safe hands at Crown Casino.

Melbourne's Police 'Highway Patrol' is known to be world class and its understood that at least 99% of police corruption as featured on Network Nine 'Underbelly' has been cleaned up.

Crown tag lines include 'World Of Entertainment' and 'Wear The Crown'.

Mr James Packer, Australian and Asia Pacific casino and gaming king, remains the owner of Crown Limited. He also owns Burswood Casino aka Burswood Entertainment Complex in Western Australia, and has a number of interests in Macau and Britain, as well as new media - internet entities. Packer remains passionate for sport, meeting Virgin king Richard Branson last year at the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix and enjoys polo, as did his late father Kerry Packer.

Ok you want more on the sports car...we hear you...

The F430 went on sale in 2005 with the Spider convertible going for a cool $444,000 AUD, plus options and on-road costs.

F430 production was ceased earlier this year and will be replaced by the flashy458 Italia, which we understand has a two-year waiting list.

Casinos have long been associated with fast cars (and fast, sexy women). In recent years the online casino and online poker sector has plugged into the demo, with PartyGaming and PKR offering sports car as high level prizes.

A few months ago PartyGaming and PKR Poker had a Porsche up for grabs, but no one qualified to win. Not to be disheartened, Party's casino and poker brands are once again offering dream machine grand prizes...

Last week Richard Branson's Virgin Racing came to sponsorship terms with online poker powerhouse Full Tilt Poker. The massive exposure of Virgin's F1 involvement on a international scale was a key reason the deal went ahead.

A number of weeks before the public Virgin - Full Tilt Poker deal, PartyGaming's PartyPoker signed up F1 superstars Jaime Alguersuari and Giancarlo Fisichella as brand ambassadors. Poker legend and World Poker Tour mainstay Mike Sexton remains the global PartyPoker ambassador. Last month following the sporting theme, PartyPoker also signed up Italian football legend Francesco Totti. The financial terms of the poker sponsorship deals are not currently known, as all parties appear to want to keep the details under wraps. Speaking of big names, rumours are circulating that PartyGaming may be in the midst of doing another deal and announcement with movie legend of Rambo and Rocky fame, Sylvester Stallone. Sly is featured in the Rambo online slot game, exclusive to PartyGaming.

PartyGaming's PartyCasino

and

PartyPoker.com

PartyCasino - Grand Win Auto - Win A Maserati GranTurismo

PartyPoker - Drive The Dream - Win a Aston Martin DB9 Coupe

Crown Casino Share Price - CWN: 8.290

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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Crime News Media: Underbelly Gambles On 3D Tech, by Greg Tingle - 3rd May 2010

2010-05-03T18:57:00.000+10:00

Underbelly is still super popular with national audiences, advertisers - sponsors and Gambling911 readers, despite getting killed (donut award - nil) at the Logies held at James Packer's Crown Casino last night.

Media Man and Gambling911 dig for dirt, er, information, as we go undercover and get embedded into Australia's 'Underbelly' landscape.

Such is the confidence show by 'Underbelly' producers and powers that be bean counters, they are to expand into 3D.

Mind you, going 3D is apparently easier said than done, with experts pointing to major challenges (tech and financial), as experienced with the James Bond and Iron-Man franchises. Iron-Man already has a happy ending as far as return on investment goes, but Bond has ended up on the scrap heap due to cash flow, if you believe the news media reports.

Nine Network Australia has ambitious plans to film the next 'Underbelly' series in 3D, hoping that it will help keep positive buzz, audiences and the bottom line looking good. Underbelly has already been heralded as one of the great Australian TV success stories, as far as drawing people in, fostering talent, getting top dollars from advertisers and catapulting Aussie's up on the international radar.

"It's helped employ 100s of Australians, if you count in the flow on factors", said a Media Man insider.

The tech revolution brought on by James Cameron's Avatar is already hitting the lounge room thanks in part to the launch of 3D TV sets! Network Nine boss David Gyngell (currently out of the country but in touch with casino king James Packer) says he is blown away by the potential.

"It's an amazing experience. Next year we can go out and shoot Underbelly in 3D," he told News Limited in "Sin City" (Sydney).

Gyng's positive energy, vision and deep pockets, sees Nine say they will carry Rugby League's 'State of Origin' clash in 3D on 26th May. It's forecast to cost the network $10 million to broadcast, and nine will be flying over tech from the United States to make it happen.

Underbelly continues to drive forward the crime genre, and not just on TV. Wires are reporting that at least 3 Australian crime shows are due to be released over the next 12 months, quite likely soon, such is the current appetite of Australian audiences.

Media Man visited Sydney's 'Sin City' Expo at the Justice & Police Museum this past weekend and it was totally packed. Audio visual highlights dominated, with punters been able to view rare documentary and film footage on Sydney's underworld history and there was plenty of gaming and gambling themes and info to be seen including Sydney's famous 33 club. Some old coin operated slot machines were only on display that you could even pull the handle on. One of the highlights was an unidentified man who kept complaining to our crew that the media was to blame for all the crime, violence and gambling on TV. Media Man pointed out that gambling and crime have been in the movies for a long time. When asked what his interest was in the expo the mystery man refused to answer the question, and left in a huff.

The Media Man crew also shot footage from the expo, some of contains rare and unique Australian casino and gambling content which is likely to hit YouTube within a week.

The rumor mill says that now not only are talks going on about an 'Underbelly' online and offline slot game, but also a board game. Loads of fun for the whole family... not sure, but it may depend on the type of family. Classification guidelines are being considered, as Australia looks to overhaul its gaming industry laws following the long awaited Productivity Commission report.

Australia was settled by convicts, many of whom enjoyed a punt n wager, depending upon what set of history books you tend to believe.

One things for sure... Underbelly has helped put Australia's long history with gambling and the underworld on the map, and the buzz doesn't look like its doing to die anytime soon.

Punters, know the odds, stay healthy, and have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company.

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Australia's Own Bonnie And Clyde Pokie Bandits Caught, by Greg Tingle - 18th April 2010

2010-04-18T16:08:00.001+10:00

Down under in Melbourne, Australia, a real life Bonnie and Clyde have been finally nabbed, after causing pokie hangout clubs and pubs hell. Australia's casinos can also relax a touch more now that the couple have been locked up.

Media Man and Gambling911 continue to probe the ever apparent connection between gambling and crime, not suggesting the readership does anything untoward.

Melbourne, Australia, was home to a real life, modern day Bonnie and Clyde! The pair went on a Pulp Fiction - Underbelly natured armed crime spree across the city, fessed up to their acts last week.

The Bacchus Marsh cunning couple, Raylene and Antony Szarvak, pleaded guilty to a lost list of armed robberies of pub and pokies venues in Melbourne's western suburbs. Crown Casino is said to be pleased the couple were caught.

Ms Sarvak, a 29-year-old mum described in court as a "homemaker", rode into town on a mean green motorbike with her hubby Antony and wielded a .357 Magnum revolver as the outlaws staged hold ups in the suburbs.

In one month the pair robbed five venues, crabbing $33,000 cash in the process.

Venues nabbed in their 15 tally score board include Glengala Hotel in Sunshine West, St Albans Sports Club, Deer Park Hotel, the Rifle Range Hotel in Williamstown, and Yarraville's Victoria On Hyde Hotel.

The County Court learned they frequently wore balaclavas, scarves and motorbike helmets.

Not to mince words on one hit Raylene warned "Don't touch it" as Antony pointed the loaded 30cm handgun at her. Other warnings she used included "I've got a gun, give me all the money or I'll shoot. This is not a joke."

The Armed Crime Taskforce nabbed the pair in August 2008 as the outlaws expanded into the eastern suburbs.

It was their Bakers Arms Hotel attempted heist job where the law caught up with them.
Two men attempted to run away but were tasered after Antony threw the Magnum gun into a garden bed.

The married bandits said their crimes were motivated by gambling, drug and unemployment issues.

Raylene initially pleaded not guilty in court but had to change her plea after her husband admitted his crimes to police.

She pleaded guilty to five counts of armed robbery, one attempted armed robbery and one conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of armed robbery, one attempted armed robbery and one conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

The pair are due to be sentenced at a later date and Gambling911 will stay on the trail.

Prosecutor Jim Shaw recommended a range of 11 to 13 years for Raylene with a non-parole period of 8 to 11 years.

He recommended a range of six to eight years for Antony with a non-parole period of five to six years.

Readers, please don't getting any funny ideas if you watch Underbelly or Bonnie And Clyde. Happy hunting and good punting.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company

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Underbelly Hype Says Australia's Ibrahim Family, by Greg Tingle - 18th April 2010

2010-04-18T12:56:00.001+10:00

Underbelly: The Golden Mile - explosive TV featuring mobsters (Aussie style), drugs, guns, gambling, hookers, crooked coppers, rock n roll, good times and some very bad times - how much is or was real, and how much is hype?

Media Man and Gambling911 embed themselves in Sydney's underworld to bring you news from the mean streets down under.

From the get go, let's just say that over the years crooks, gangsters, mobsters or whatever you care to call them, have usually enjoyed quite the love - hate relationship with the public and the media, and in some cases, even the police.

Aussie's love a good yard (story - true or false), as does much of the world, and crime based TV (and movies) has proven to be some of the most popular ever... from The Godfather, The Sopranos, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, Casino, Growing Up Gotti, CSI, Gangs Of Oz, to everyones (almost) Underbelly.

Criminals by nature are a colourful lot, with some very bright in the mix, and some not so smart ones to boot.

Our old mate and sometimes associate, Tim "Earthquake" Bristow was always good for a story and mixed in interesting company. Big Tim called himself "retired gangster and Godfather of Sydney" where yours truely quizzed him about his role only weeks before his (natural) death.

Some very smart operators were in and around the clan, and a few knuckleheads for good measure. Bristow has a ton of connections, man power, power, money, influence and information at his disposal. He talked it up, but his contacts and inner circle was the whose whose, and it included judges, police detectives, politicians, news media, celebrities and you get the idea.

We're not exactly certain of the connection and / or relationship our friend Bristow had with the late George Freeman, as witnessed on Network Nine's Underbelly, but its fair to say that they co-existed... neither fell prey to the other, and there was plenty of good times and money to go around for all.

Let's probe Sin City Sydney, Australia...

Fadi Ibrahim is now hitting back (no, not that type of hit) at police and news media attention on his family, claiming the focus on his family's life was "just hype" and would end after Underbelly stops screening.

The only main problem with Ibrahim Jr's argument is that Network Nine are going to keep pumping out 'Underbelly's', albeit it with more of the action taking place in the Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise region, near the NSW - QLD boarder, for our out of town readership.

The brother of Kings Cross well known identity John Ibrahim was shot five times in his Lamborghini last last year and is currently on strict conditional bail after being charged with conspiracy to murder.

But he claims the focus on his family's life was "just hype".

"I think it's all hype and it will calm down when Underbelly is finished," Mr Ibrahim told Rupert Murdoch's The Sunday Telegraph. Media Man can back up many of the media reports as numerous first hand and some second hand reports are regularly being e-mailed into the office.

'The Cross' has been in face targeted by police in recent weeks with uniformed, plainclothed and riot-squad officers patrolling the streets. While news media may have added some hype and color to the situation, it doesn't change the facts.

Numerous police sources advise there was continuing intelligence the Bandidos and Comanchero bikie gangs may confront rival gang Notorious, which is associated with the family of nightclub owner, John Ibrahim aka "King Of The Cross".

He remains the focus of the current Underbelly television series and it is feared Ibrahim's enemies and dark forces may plan to take advantage of his leaving the country for Dubai last week, while the series is being screened.

Operation Eaglehawk continues to gain intel in the meantime which has been targeting licensed venues in and around 'The Cross' and Sydney for over a month.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli said Operation Eaglehawk was not a one-off operation and police would continue targeting anti-social behaviour and violence, regardless of the publicity generated by Underbelly.

"We have police on the streets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year targeting criminal, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime," Mr Mennilli said.

"Police constantly run these operations in Kings Cross, as well as in Oxford St, the CBD, The Rocks and other areas where there is a high density of people and alcohol.

"The public can rest assured police have been targeting Kings Cross for years and will continue to do so, regardless of some passing publicity generated by a TV drama."

Last week, coppers from Operation Eaglehawk made 11 arrests, conducted 46 person searches, inspected 56 businesses and issued 72 traffic infringement notices, reports News Limited.

Some more impressive (real life) numbers ... Operation Eaglehawk has investigated 294 businesses, conducted 286 person searches, issued 117 traffic infringement notices and made 73 arrests.

Fadi Ibrahim, his bodyguard Neil Cummings, and his fiancee Shayda Bastani said Underbelly was not an entirely accurate account of events, but they had watched the first episode and enjoyed it.

Mr Ibrahim said actor Firass Dirani was doing a great job playing his brother. "He's like a Lebanese John Travolta. He's doing a top job."

David Freeman, who joined Mr Ibrahim at Randwick Racecourse yesterday for the Doncaster, did not comment on the portrayal of his father George in Underbelly's first episode. Some say the races in Australia is a "sunny place for shady persons", but no one is currently commenting on that well known expression.

Fadi was bailed out after he and his younger brother Michael were charged with conspiracy to murder. Police allege it was in retaliation for the attempt on Fadi's life.

Aussie readers, its you're lucky day (technically night). Underbelly is on Channel Nine tonight - that's right, its Sunday... you wouldn't want to miss it for quids. Starts at 8.30pm, and it might warm you up to a bit of Kings Cross gambling action later in the week. Betfair Pink Pigeon birdies tell us if you have a want, need or desire, 'The Cross' is still the place to go. If you're out of luck and can't find it, you can always hope a cab and swing on over to Sydney's Star City Casino, and high rollers, if that still doesn't do it for you, Mr James Packer and co at Billionaire Inc - Crown Casino Casino in Melbourne, have those Gulfsteam jets ready and engines fired up for those who are financially qualified. Of course, you can stay at home and even play the pokes. PartyGaming even offers 'The Godfather' and Captain Cooks 'Hitman'. We know you're keen for an Underbelly and UFC slot game and the powers that be have been tipped off. Just be grateful that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy and their bible bashing conspirators were not successful in their miserable attempts to ban your beloved Underbelly.

Enjoy the show, some of which is available for preview on the NineMSN website portal, and some of which may be getting leaked to YouTube and elsewhere.

In this world we live, information can be key, be it gambling, TV, legal, internet or whatever, and Gambling911 and Media Man are delighted to continue to bring you the news and info you won't find anywhere else. Underbelly - the verdict: Fact is stranger than fiction, but also keep in mind it's also produced to entertain the audience and bring in big numbers to advertisers and sponsors...something it is doing a smashing job of. Over 2 million Australia's are expected to tune into again tonight.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company, gaming being just one of over a dozen industries covered

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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Underbelly Disgraceful Sex, Drugs And Rock N Roll, by Greg Tingle - 15th April 2010

2010-04-14T22:16:00.000+10:00

The Australian television smash hit, featuring gambling, hookers, drugs, guns, crooked cops and all round mayhem on the mean streets of Sydney's Kings Cross, is dividing Australian society.

Media Man and Gambling911 recently discovered that the Australian Prime Minster and Communications Minister failed in their attempts to ban the show (its a show, not a doco), and now public figures including a former judge and numerous police officers are speaking out.

Television shows featuring crime like ratings winner Underbelly are disgraceful glamorisations of criminals, evil acts et al and there's nothing admirable about events depicted in them, says ex Supreme Court Judge James Wood. Wood has every right to feel that way, being the man who led a royal commission on New South Wales police corruption.

Wood said the Network Nine hit and the ilk of were at least partly responsible in make guns and violence acceptable and glamorised characters based on people who were nothing but "hoodlums and thugs".

We point out to Wood and his friends that the legal profession has had more than its fair share of bad apples over the years, as had the church, education system, political arena, and so the list goes on. At least crims are usually straight up about it.

Underbelly: The Golden Mile went to air this this past Monday and attracted a massive 2,237,000 viewers down under. The show promotes Kings Cross as the place "bent cops, straight cops, cool criminals and colourful characters all converged to make their mark" until the royal commission threatened the "black empire" with collapse.

The royal commission named 284 police officers, (unlucky) seven of whom were locked up in the slammer, including one of the central Underbelly characters, the former chief of detectives Graham "Chook" Fowler.

Wood, these days holding the positions as chairman of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission, advised he had not seen the first episode of this series but was familiar with its content.

He is hopeful that a doco the Australian Broadcasting Corporation will screen in May would deliver balance, as Underbelly and crime-show genre created the "wrong impression" about the behavior exhibited.

"There's nothing honourable or admirable in relation to the people who are depicted in these programs," he said. "For the impressionable kids out there watching these programs, they think it's a lot of fun. It's bloody well not a lot of fun. It's harming a lot of people and carries huge risks. You've got a high chance of ending up in a prison for 20 or 30 years. These shows don't show that."

Network Nine censor, Richard Lyle, said the majority of those depicted would not come out of the Underbelly story well, with the exception of a few clean police and Mr Wood!

Mr Lyle said the series was a very responsible tale which started off with a bang because it was necessary to set the scene and explain what lured people to the criminal underworld. Why do people become gangsters? Because they get a lot of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. But if you wind up dead or in jail, this is a cautionary tale."

Loyal readers, sound a bit like the gambling industry? That's what we thought. Gambling scenes are featured in 'The Golden Mile' and in a non coincidence, gambling is starting to make a comeback on the mean streets and back alley's of 'The Cross' as this report goes to press. A birdie tells us its more than just a bit of 2UP between mates, but its not exactly the VIP high rollers room at Star City or Crown Casino either. The stakes are super high however, and if things go belly up, one can pay the ultimate price. Not to further glamorise the seriousness of things, but picture Johnny Cash and the classic 'The Man Comes Around' and 'Folsom Prison Blues', and your getting the right idea. Punters and crims be warned, there's no gambling (officially) in most prisons around the globe, and that includes online slots and online poker. The only betting in the big house might be about who's going to "cop it" next, be it in the shower or gym.

On a most serious note, please bet responsibly and adhere to laws and regulations applicable to your circumstances. Good punting.

References: Network Nine, NSW Police, Fairfax Media, News Limited, Casino News Media, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, National Library Of Australia (and unidentified persons familiar with the mean streets of Kings Cross).

* Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

* Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of over a bakers dozen of industries covered.

* No informants were paid in the compiling of this report

* The writer is a member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance

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Third Installment of Underbelly a Ratings Bonanza - 12th April 2010

2010-04-13T08:35:00.001+10:00

The third installment of Channel Nine's blockbuster Underbelly series delivered a spectacular result in last night's TV ratings, watched by 2,237,000 viewers nationally.

The result will effectively silence media speculation that the third series would fall short of the results obtained by its two predecessors.

Nine's launch of Underbelly: The Golden Mile kicks off one of the most competitive weeks of the ratings year, with Nine unveiling the refurbished Hey Hey, It's Saturday, Seven launching its big-budget war epic The Pacific and a revamped Australia's Got Talent and, next week, Ten's launch of the second series of MasterChef.

Underbelly: The Golden Mile picks up where the second instalment, A Tale of Two Cities, left off. It is set in Kings Cross between the the years 1989 and 1999.

It stars Emma Booth as Kim Hollingsworth, Firass Dirani as John Ibrahim, Peter O'Brien as George Freeman, Dieter Brummer as Trevor Haken and Damian Garvey as Chook Fowler.

The first two episodes, aired as a telemovie, knocked the competition out of the park. Seven's Bones attracted only 1,172,000 viewers, while Ten's hit series The Good Wife took the hardest hit, dropping to 809,000 viewers.

The Underbelly "effect" also buoyed Nine's struggling current affairs franchise, 60 Minutes, bolstering it to an audience of 1,496,000, one of its best results this year. (Credit: Fairfax Media)

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Frank Sinatra Land Based Casino To Close But Sinatra Slot Lives On At PartyGaming, by Greg Tingle - 1st April 2010

2010-04-01T16:37:00.000+11:00

A Nevada casino once owned by legend Frank Sinatra and patronised by Hollywood stars and mobsters has closed due to plunging gambling rates and competition from the Vegas strip.

Media Man and Gambling911 investigate, as we mix it up with Hollywooders, journos, academics and mobsters...

Associations with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior has not been enough to save the Cal Neva Lodge Casino from the distressed US land based casino industry.

The casino, situated on Lake Tahoe near the California border, last year saw its revenues fall to approximately 50% of what they enjoyed in 1992 allowing for inflation, tipped Mr William Eadington, director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada.

Other local casinos continue to close or have downsized, unable to compete with Las Vegas, not in good shape itself – and the growing number of gambling resorts on Native American Indian reservations.

"The realities are when you have that kind of decline the weakest operators typically get pushed out," advised Mr Eadington. "The older, tired casinos and the Cal Neva is a great example, don't have much to offer for gaming."

Understood to be America's oldest licensed casino, the Cal Neva opened for business in 1926. The Cal Veva enjoyed its peak in the early 1960s when it was bought by Sinatra, reportedly in partnership with Sam Giancana, a Chicago mobster.

Adding a 35-seat celebrity showroom and rooftop helicopter pad, Samy and Frank ensured film stars, singers and Mafiosi enjoyed its blackjack games and roulette tables.

A network of underground tunnels, built to smuggle alcohol during Prohibition, allowed the VIP guests to move around the establishment without being seen by the general public.

Monroe actually spent the last weekend of her colourful life at The Cal in 1962 as a guest of the infamous 'Rat Pack' actor Peter Lawford and his wife.

Various stories circulate as to why the blond goddess was there. One story goes on to say she discussed making a film with Dean Martin and to patch things up with her second husband, baseball icon Joe DiMaggio, yet another Cal Neva regular. The other side of the story we learn is that a 1999 biography claimed Monroe was brought there to be threatened not to reveal her Mafia links, drugged in her cabin and photographed in compromising positions! Another Cal Neva rumour claims she used the resort for a tryst with John F Kennedy.

Staff concede the resort has traded off its colourful history but Guy Rocha, a former Nevada state archivist, said it would not register with younger gamblers. The hotel and restaurant remain open, but the tables, slots and other gambling activity are history.

"The Cal Neva doesn't capture people's imagination the way it once did," he said.

The Sinatra name is however alive and strong on the internet. Media Man has created an online tribute (with the help of Wikipedia) which is found here
http://www.mediamanint.com/profiles/sinatra.html and an authentic Sinatra online slot game, developed by 'The Games Studio' of PartyGaming fame is also showcased. Frank Sinatra Enterprises came to business terms with PartyGaming last year and the slot game has proven to be one of the most popular of all time, even competing with the legendary Cleopatra, developed by IGT (International Gaming Technology) and WagerWorks. Gangster and mob related games are some of the most popular found anywhere in the world. 'The Godfather' franchise also has an online slot game and rumours are circulating that Australia's late Kerry Packer (code named "The Goanna" in The Costigan Commission report) may also get the same treatment.

PartyGaming is also currently rumoured to be in discussions with the Canadian Poker Tour aka HeadsUp Entertainment, as well as enjoying M&A talk with Bwin and others. This past week PartyGaming inked a b2b multi year deal with Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU). Party will provide its poker product to its horse racing website. Party continues its global strategy with France, South America, India, the U.S and Australia in its sights.

Media Man remains optimistic about America's igaming industry growth, having created http://www.americangamingnews.com and http://www.hollywoodslotgames.com

A Media Man insider was overheard, "If only the U.S igaming market would open up sooner rather than later. We could kick some major goals under Gambling911 and the Sly Stallone - Arnie connection guidance. I guess we will have to stick mainly to poker and sports betting in the U.S sector for now, but when things change those Gambling911 guys, PartyGaming and the Media Man crew might just take over Vegas and Atlantic City... we could back door it in via Canada and North America with those Canadian Poker tournament guys. It will be just like the good old days, and you know history repeats my friend".

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. The firm covers approximately a dozen business vertical markets including gaming and igaming

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Casino Jack and the United States of Money

2010-01-19T10:57:00.000+11:00

GENRE: Documentary
DIRECTOR: Alex Gibney
RUNNING TIME: 2:00
RELEASE DATE: Opens 23rd January 2010

"Casino Jack" is a rollicking circus of corruption, from high rollers in Indian casinos, hookers in Saipan, a murdered Greek tycoon, Cold War spy novels, plush trips to paradise . . . and the United States Congress. These are among the intriguing clues that add up to the epic mystery behind one of the greatest attempted heists in American history.

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Man laundered $500,000 in casino: police, by Katelyn Catanzariti - 13th January 2010

2010-01-18T11:11:00.000+11:00

A Chinese national accused of laundering $500,000 headed straight to a casino after withdrawing the cash, police say.

Zheng Tan, from Wollstonecraft in Sydney's north, spent his 30th birthday in jail on Tuesday after being charged with eight counts of laundering more than $500,000 last month.

Police allege that after withdrawing the money in Sydney he flew to Melbourne and mixed it with another $500,000 during a night at the Crown Casino, in an attempt to obscure the origin of the funds.

Tan appeared in Sydney's Central Local Court on Wednesday and applied for bail, but it was refused by Magistrate Jane Culver. (Credit: Fairfax)

*Read the full article here

Man accused of laundering $500k 'a flight risk' - 13th January 2010

2010-01-18T11:07:00.001+11:00

A man charged in connection with an alleged fraud syndicate has been deemed an unacceptable flight risk and refused bail.

Chinese national Zheng Tan, 30, has appeared in court charged with eight counts of laundering more than $500,000.

Police allege the Crows Nest resident is part of a larger syndicate which has been using cheques stolen from letter boxes to create false bank accounts and in turn, take out fraudulent loans.

Despite assurances to the court that the accused had ties to the local community and had no prior criminal record, the magistrate said there was a strong case against him which could receive a heavy custodial sentence and would be a disincentive to return to court.

Tan was deemed an unacceptable flight risk and was refused bail.

The case returns to court next month.

Australia's Gold Coast Remains Hotbed For Sports Betting Scams: Crims charged over $10m online bet scheme, by Greg Tingle - 11th January 2010

2010-01-12T08:24:00.001+11:00

Australia's Gold Coast in the Surfers Paradise region maintains its reputation as a hotbed for sports betting scams.

We can now confirm that four males have been arrested on the Gold Coast over an alleged $10 million betting fraud operation.

Police advise that the criminals were involved in a complex sports betting scheme, where bets were placed on all possible outcomes so a profit was made.

The bids were subsequently placed through the group's Gold Coast-based online betting agency (likely to be named and shamed in the near future).

It's alleged some money that punters gave the men to wager cannot be accounted for, something that got the criminals extra unwanted attention in the first place.

The four fraudsters were arrested today after a year-long police investigation sparked by a significant number of complaints by punters from across Australia.

The police named the investigation Operation Stopwatch.

The men have been conjointly charged with one count of fraud between November 2007 and February 2009 and are expected to face further charges including forgery and making false records.

They are due to face Southport Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Acting Detective Inspector Marc Hogan advised the arrests were an excellent outcome.

"The State Crime Operations Fraud and Corporate Crime Group assisted in this investigation and will continue to provide further specialised support," he said.

Media Man last year shed light on a number of sports betting cons originating from the Gold Coast and facilitated communications to the Australian High Tech Crime Centre, a division of the Australian Federal Police.

*The writer is the founder and director of Media Man, primarily a media, publicity and Internet portal development company who operate in a dozen different business sectors. http://www.mediamanint.com

*Media Man has acted in a publicity and online PR role for Australia's Betezy who are the backend sports betting technology that powers the Gold Coast Titan's NRL club.

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Gangs' casino dole scam; Media Man reports from down under, by Greg Tingle - 28th December 2009

2009-12-28T07:21:00.001+11:00

Rupert Murdochs' Australian newspapers including The Herald-Sun, continue to run excellent (and balanced) coverage on the casino and gambling sector in Australia.

Let it be known that Murdoch also has some gaming (and igaming) interests, however they are further developed in the UK sector. Media Man has incidental joined some of News Limited's b2b affiliate programs as goodwill and we utilise some of their newsfeeds, so there's your disclaimer before we swing into things.

The age old connection between casinos, gambling dens and crime continues, albeit a different kind of animal than when the late George Foreman and his "Underbelly" crew ran the streets of Melbourne and Sydney. The late "Earthquake" Tim Bristow gave me a small taste of the scene via Sydney's Penthouse Executive Retreat, and "The Golden Mile" (Kings Cross), which Sydney's "Mr Sin" used to have a significant hold on.

Mr James Packers' Crown Casino has come under the spotlight (or blowtorch) again.... in Australia, if its not the anti gambling lobby having a dig, its the press, and if not them, the police. Crown Casino spokesman, Gary O'Neil, was recently quoted that Crown "is not a convent", but that's pretty much a given.

Australian law enforcement agencies have smartly noted and actioned revelations that some high level criminal networks (and some not so smart ones also) are using Crown Casino as quite the hub and centrepiece of criminal activity.

One of the scams that the crims operate is having Centrelink (Australia's unemployment benefits service) customers, and pensioners, buying chips at the casino which are then used as part of the money laundering process.

Media Man will be attending Crown Casino Aussie Millions next month and is in negotiations with media representatives for Crown. We look forward to providing news media and gaming media with more balanced reports on the casino and gaming sector.

*The writer does own shares in Crown Casino

*Greg Tingle is an Australian based correspondent for Gambling911 and the founder and director of Media Man a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen of business sectors that Media Man covers.

Ben Packham of The Herald Sun reports:

CRIME gangs are using pensioners and the unemployed to launder millions in dirty money through casinos, authorities believe.

Centrelink has alerted organised-crime investigators to 15 clients it believes are involved.

They are understood to include a Victorian man who bought almost $13 million in chips at Crown, despite being on the dole. The Australian Crime Commission is closely watching casinos after an 18-month probe.

ACC chief executive John Lawler said that it had intelligence indicating organised crime groups were engaged in "high-level gambling activity" in legal casinos.

Its financial assessment team matched information from casino loyalty programs with other databases, including Centrelink records.

Last year, the Herald Sun revealed it had identified about 2600 Centrelink clients who each bought at least $50,000 in chips; 30 had buy-ins of more than $1 million.

Many were welfare cheats with gambling addictions and undeclared incomes. But further investigation revealed some had links to organised crime groups.

The Herald Sun understands Centrelink referred clients with suspected organised crime links to the ACC for further inquiries.

It's believed the ACC identified more suspected money launderers, independently of the welfare agency.

The federal crime-fighting agency refused to comment.

"The ACC will continue to work with the casino industry to ensure serious and organised criminal entities involved in money laundering are identified and pursued," Mr Lawler said.

The investigation also used Immigration, Customs, and tax office data.

The ACC estimates the cost of organised crime is $10 billion-15 billion a year, an estimated $6 billion of which goes offshore.

Its recent report, Organised Crime in Australia, said most such groups had overseas links, good advice and "professional facilitators".

Organised crime groups are typically involved in drugs, weapons trafficking and high-level financial crimes.

Human Services Minister Chris Bowen said hi-tech data-matching meant that welfare recipients with illicit incomes would be discovered.

"Welfare fraud is a criminal offence liable to long jail sentences," he said.

"People who fraudulently claim benefits from Centrelink should consider themselves warned. It's not a question of if you'll be caught, but when."

Casinos are required to turn over information to authorities under anti-money laundering laws introduced after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Crown refused to comment to the Herald Sun.

*Read the full article here. (Credit: The Herald-Sun)

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Drug gangs buy nightclubs in hot spots - 18th December 2009

2009-12-18T07:34:00.002+11:00

Clubs used for cocaine parties

Special gangster rooms

Prostitutes and criminals

A gang of wealthy criminals with links to mafia cocaine cartels has bought nightclubs in some of Australia's most popular tourist spots.

The nightclubs were used for cocaine parties and to house special gangster rooms providing drugs and prostitutes to local criminals, according to leaked Crime and Misconduct Commission documents.

The intelligence assessment, called Project Aurum, reveals that federal authorities failed to investigate the group's ringleader, who was suspected to have acquired substantial assets through cocaine importations that were linked to the Calabrian mafia.

Several of the men were able to buy into nightclubs on the Gold Coast despite having criminal records for drug offences, assault, weapons possession, tax evasion and fraud, says one of the documents, created in 2003.

One of the targets was recorded as snorting cocaine with a television celebrity who had a minor criminal record.

A CMC spokeswoman confirmed that the project was undertaken by the agency but said the commission could not discuss any operational details.

The intelligence assessment was based on surveillance reports, telephone records and tips from confidential informants and noted the suspects' high-flying lifestyle, substantial business interests in nightclubs and restaurants and extensive assets in property.

The group was recorded gambling thousands of dollars at the Reef Casino in Cairns, using high-priced callgirls on the Gold Coast and associating with senior members of some of Australia's most dangerous bikie gangsters.

At one establishment they frequented, the suspects were so notorious that their bar table became known as "the mafia table" and was where they held "white (cocaine) parties" with strippers in special "gangster" rooms.

The principle target was a southern businessman, who, four years earlier, had been recommended to federal authorities for investigation because of his substantial assets and connection to cocaine importations.

The same businessman had links to criminals who worked with the Calabrian mafia to bring in more than $30 million in cocaine hidden in stone blocks in 1999 and 2000.

(Credit: News Limited, Wires, AP, Australian Federal Police, Google News)

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Heroin found in Maj-Jong tiles - AAP - 21st November 2009

2009-11-21T16:51:00.000+11:00

More than $1 million of heroin concealed inside tiles normally used for indoor games has arrived at Sydney International Airport, police say.

The heroin was allegedly found inside four medium sized black cases of Maj-Jong and Domino tiles.

"The tiles appeared to be of poor quality and were subjected to further tests by Customs and Border Protection Officers," an Australian Federal Police spokesman said in a statement on Saturday (Credit: Fairfax - AAP)

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Sydney Casino Brawl Results in 20 Arrests - Gambling911 - 11th April 2009

2009-04-13T07:51:00.002+10:00

Police were called to Star City at Pyrmont early this morning after reports of a fight between two groups.

Police said the brawl started inside the venue before security staff threw a number of people out.

"A number of people fled the scene upon police arrival, however, 10 people were arrested at the location," police said in a statement.

"They have been taken to various police stations throughout the city and are currently assisting police with their inquiries."

Commenting on the brawls, Australian Media Man, Greg Tingle, told Gambling911.com:

"This is the latest of numerous high profile fights at Australian casinos. Last year a model was shot whilst working at Star City. In addition in recent months there's been a number of bashings at Burswood Casino in Perth and last month there was an in-play poker fight at the Rock Tavern (a club with strong similarities to a casino) Cairns, Queensland. Packer's Crown Casino in Melbourne currently has a number of legal fights on its hands, but has managed to avoid on premise violence to the best of public knowledge. Seems there's plenty more material available for more episodes of Network Nine's 'Underbelly' and Channel Seven's 'Gangs Of Oz'. These recent high profile criminal acts at some of Australia's premier gambling venues are certainly not going to hurt the popularity of online casinos."

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Paroled Murderer Kills Again After Blowing Money Gambling - Gambling911 - 16th March 2009

2009-03-17T14:51:00.001+11:00

A paroled murderer in Australia killed again, this time a 78-year old woman. The motive: He blew his grocery money on the pokies, court documents heard.

Mark John Adams, 45, is charged with stabbing to death Barbara Doreen Risby on Hobart's Domain on May 23, 2007.

"Unfortunately this presents a most powerful argument for playing the pokes online and skipping some of the riff raff and undesirables who have a habit of frequenting traditional land based casinos," claims Media Man, Greg Tingle. "I think there's good cause for more security officers to be present at traditional casinos. Of course one needs to be mindful of what online casinos to visit also, but I am pleased to give a clean bill on health on those brands showcased on websites like Gambling911.com."

Ms. Risby was in the wrong place at the wrong time and had never met the alleged killer.

Adams's lawyer, Tamara Jago, told the court Adams spent the morning before Mrs Risby's murder playing poker machines in hotels in Hobart..

"He instructs that it came to him that he needed to obtain some money," Ms Jago told the court.

"He determined that he would effect a robbery."

She said Adams was in the habit of carrying a knife.

"He produced the knife with the hope that the threat of it would cause the surrendering of a handbag," she said.

The murder was not pre-meditated, Ms Jago said.

"He says he didn't specially seek out a victim but rather his victim was the first person who came into the area once he'd determined to do this," she said.

Adams had been out of jail for four years after serving 17 years for the 1986 stabbing murder of his neighbour, Edna Jean Story, in her Risdon Vale home. (Credit: Gambling911)

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Underbelly Series to Continue Says Channel Nine Exec - Gambling911 - 22nd February 2009

2009-02-23T09:41:00.002+11:00

In its second season, Australia's Underbelly franchise has witnessed massive viewership. More than 2 million people tune in nightly.

Channel Nine Direct Sales Manager, Ian Sheppard, told Gambling911.com's Senior International Correspondent, Jenny Woo.

"Underbelly is based on real events," Sheppard said, and these events have had viewers on the edge of their seats each Monday night. "The name Underbelly is really just a franchise to dramatize real organized crime in Australia so it really is a question of what else they can go to work on. Another great story out of the 1970's and 80's are of the biking gangs in Australia or New Zealand, the Hell's Angels and the Commancheros; they basically ran the drug trade. So there's probably a good episode story there, which could be branded Underbelly. It's really just a question of how many interesting and real stories they can dig up from the past in terms of organized crime in Australia."

Media Man, Greg Tingle, agrees.

"There is enough material for the next few years," he said.

Tingle also told Gambling911.com that another network was in the midst of airing a similar series to that of Underbelly.

That said, a number of networks back in the United States tried and failed to copy HBO's ground breaking series, The Sopranos. Like the Sopranos, Underbelly is based on real events taking place in a sort of underworld society.

When asked if the series is exaggerated, much like the Sopranos could be at times, Sheppard said he wasn't fully certain.

"I think that's a hard one to answer. The only thing I can say to that is that the first two episodes in the current series dealt with the murder of a guy called Donald Mackay, who was an anti drug campaigner in a part of Australia where a lot of Italian families were growing cannabis. He disappeared and they found his truck with empty bullet casings in a puddle of blood but they never found out who actual killed him. They reckon beyond any doubt who it was and Underbelly ran with this particular story where they actually showed the guy shooting him. But I suppose historically the records show that no one was ever charged with his murder."

Last week, the series touched on the Underbelly casino elements.

"There will be more casino themes upcoming," Tingle informed us, though Sheppard would not elaborate on the subject. "It's an area that has quite a bit of history in Australia."

What's really gripped Australians, perhaps more than anything else, is the amount of violence depicted.

" I think that people are both shocked and fascinated to know that all this was happening here in our city, Sydney and Melbourne," Sheppard said. "We've always been shocked when we hear about violence coming out of Los Angeles, Miami or New York. We've always viewed ourselves as being away from all of that. I think it sort of shocked a lot of people here. We weren't naïve to think that nothing happened but I think a lot of people were shocked thinking the worst of the worst." (Credit: Gambling911)

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Dramatic Underbelly upsets those who were there, by Malcolm Brown - The Age - 16th February 2009

2009-02-17T12:18:00.001+11:00

Barbara Mackay did not work in her husband Don's furniture shop. Robert Trimbole did not live in a "grass castle" in the Griffith hinterland, or grow oranges. And he did not tell Don Mackay — at least not in public — that he would kill him.

The people of Griffith, the Riverina town where Mackay was killed in 1977, noted the dramatic licence in the opening episodes of Underbelly 2 on Channel Nine.

Don Mackay's son, Paul Mackay, was not available when The Age called, but he was quoted in Griffith's Area News saying the show was riddled with errors.

"My mother never worked one day in the family business, while in the show she was in there answering phones," he said.

"And I've never heard of the character of the local police officer they showed.

"I realise the producers qualified it by saying it tells the essential truth of the story, but I don't know how telling a lie helps them tell the truth."

The wife of a former councillor, who asked not to be named, said the inaccuracies worried her. Barbara Mackay was a physiotherapist who gave prenatal classes. Trimbole lived in town, but not in a big estate. He might have owned a property in the district but he did not grow oranges.

Some of the events in the program touch on reality. Trimbole is on record as having gone angrily to the Griffith police station in 1974 saying he would "kill" Mackay and his wife and children.

But he did not do it to his face after a public meeting, as depicted in Underbelly.

Mackay, a campaigner against the marijuana trade, was killed by hitman James Frederick Bazley in the car park of the Griffith Hotel Motel in November 1977. (Credit: The Age)

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Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities to Employ Gambling Theme - Gambling911.com - 12th February 2009

2009-02-12T20:13:00.001+11:00

Gambling911.com has learned that upcoming episodes of Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities will feature "some casino and gambling themes". The show's second season was the highest rated launch in Australia's history.

George Freeman, played by Peter O'Brien, ran a number of Australian casinos (gambling houses... "with no name" and unadvertised, sort of the opposite of casinos to that of the James Packer's Crown Casino (which is all above board and advertised, mainstream and is legal etc).

As we have come to learn, the world of casinos and bookmaking in Australia is quite fascinating to say the least, and this should play in superbly with the Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities theme.

Media man, Greg Tingle gives us a taste of the old school gambling lifestyle in Australia:

"My grandfather, Eric Fraser Cameron Tingle ran a SP bookmaker operation from Newport Beach plant nursery which also doubled as a barber shop... tripled as a SP hangout. Today Newport Beach TAB is next door. A decade ago I used to regularly have a punt at the TAB with the late, great (and notorious) Big Time Bristow.

"I caught up with Tim at his home at Newport, just around the corner from my old home at Pittwater, 3 weeks before Tim's unfortunate (and natural) death. I pointed to Chris Master's book entitled 'Not for publication' and the chapter entitled, Guilty Buildings'. I recalled to Tim, ‘That's you isn't it Tim?' TB replied, ‘You nailed it in one Greg'. That's the scoop... its never been published or put in the public domain before." (Credit: Gambling911.com)

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Underbelly 2 rocks the ratings, by Michael Idato - The Sydney Morning Herald - 10th February 2009

2009-02-10T18:54:00.002+11:00

Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities - the second chapter of the most talked about crime series in Australia's modern history - made an explosive debut on television last night, with 2.5 million viewers tuned in.

Only two days into the ratings year, the win pushes Nine almost 10 percentage points ahead of rival Seven for the week.

Few would disagree it is an impressive start, though Nine still faces a massive challenge if it hopes to regain its lost ratings glory.

The win also gave Nine more than 40 per cent of 25-54-year-old viewers, the demographic which most advertisers prefer. In comparison, Seven's share of the same demographic last night was only 24.1 per cent.

Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities dramatises the Sydney drug trade between 1976-1987, and the rise of underworld figures Robert Trimbole (Roy Billing), Terry Clark (Matthew Newton) and George Freeman (Peter O'Brien).

Last night's two-hour premiere focused on the assassination of anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay (Andrew McFarlane). It also introduced robber Ray Chuck (Nathan Page), underworld wife Judi Kane (Kate Ritchie) and hit man Christopher Dale Flannery (Dustin Clare) all of whom will feature prominently in later episodes.

Last night's Underbelly debut compares to 1.93 million viewers who watched the first episode of Packed to the Rafters, Seven's monster drama hit of 2008.

It also out-rated the first series of Underbelly, which dramatised the 1995-2004 gangland war in Melbourne, which was watched by an average of 1.7 million viewers. That figure fell short of an expected 2.5 million-plus because the first series was not aired in Melbourne due to a court injunction. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)

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Nine's a glutton for Underbelly, by Richard Clune - The Sunday Telegraph - 1st February 2009

2009-02-04T21:07:00.002+11:00

A week ahead of Underbelly's second series launch, Insider can confirm that work has already started on a third series of the crime franchise, expected to launch later this year.

The third outing will explore the corruption of the NSW and Victorian police forces throughout the 1980s and the clean up job that started in the early '90s.

Production company Screentime's Des Monaghan confirmed the new series, while Nine CEO David Gyngell alluded to the program's possible 2009 debut.

"Its a no-brainer to go again and have Underbelly 3 on Channel Nine as soon as possible,'' Gyngell said.

Next week (Monday 8.30pm) Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities debuts.

If the first series gave Gyton Grantley a platform from which to launch a strong career, Insider believes it to be Nathan Page's turn this year. The largely unknown actor shines in the opening episodes as Melbourne hard man and bank robber Ray Chuck (real name Raymond Patrick Bennett), famed for the 1976 multi-million dollar Great Bookie Robbery.

Page has been trawling the local scene with obligatory appearances in Home & Away, Secret Life Of Us and opposite Kylie Minogue in forgettable flick Sample People but this will certainly prove his breakthrough role. (Credit: The Sunday Telegraph)

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Underbelly 2 start date announced, by Amanda Meade - The Australian - 28th January 2009

2009-02-04T21:03:00.001+11:00

The highly anticipated TV drama Underbelly 2: A Tale of Two Cities will premiere on Nine at 8.30pm on Monday February 9.

The date has been closely guarded by Nine because once the rival networks know the timeslot they can program competitively against it.

So feverish has the speculation been the media has taken to guessing the date.

A Nine source revealed to The Australian the series would begin the day after the start of official ratings - Sunday 8 February - and stay in the Monday timeslot.

Under CEO David Gyngell Nine has grown in confidence, improving its audience share last year and undermining Seven’s grip on the top spot.

With Underbelly 2, the cricket and a host of news shows, the network may be able to regain even more ground this year.

Series two is a prequel and the story moves to regional New South Wales, as well as Sydney and Melbourne, and features crime boss Robert Trimbole, to be played by Roy Billing.

Matthew Newton plays Terry “Mr. Asia” Clark, Andrew McFarlane plays anti-drugs campaigner Donald McKay and Peter O’Brien portrays George Freeman.

“Nine is thrilled to be bringing Underbelly- A Tale of Two Cities to the small screen in 2009,” said Nine Drama Exec Jo Horsburgh last year.

“I think the audience will love it.” (Credit: The Australian)

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Gangland murder witness to plead guilty to driving charges - 4th February 2009

2009-02-04T20:55:00.001+11:00

A man who claimed to be unfit to answer driving charges because of injuries he sustained in a gangland shooting has failed in his bid to avoid prosecution.

Herbert Wrout will now plead guilty to a series of driving charges, his lawyer Chris Triscott told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.

Wrout, 66, was sitting alongside his friend Lewis Moran when two balaclava-clad men burst into the Brunswick club on March 31, 2004.

Moran was shot dead in the ambush but Wrout survived with wounds to his chest and arms.

Wrout lost his spleen and suffered extensive injuries in the incident.

At a hearing last October, Wrout claimed he was unfit to answer charges of unlicensed driving, driving while disqualified and refusing a preliminary breath test. But Mr Triscott told the court that his client would now plead guilty to the charges.

He asked for the hearing to be adjourned to allow more time for reports to be obtained.

Magistrate Simon Garnett ordered Wrout to face court again on March 12.

Evangelos Goussis was found guilty last May of shooting crime patriarch Moran and of causing Wrout - who was shot by a second gunman - serious injury.

Goussis is serving a minimum of 15 years for killing gangland figure Lewis Caine in May 2004.

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Aussie Welfare Recipients Laundered $25 Million Through Casinos, by Tina Golden

2009-01-06T08:32:00.001+11:00

As a result of a year and a half long investigation by Centrelink authorities, more than 160 welfare cheats have been identified as being involved in money laundering scams. Officials say it is likely to be connected to organized crime syndicates as well as outlaw biker gangs.

In this type of money laundering scam, dirty money (acquired by illegal means) is used to buy casino gambling chips thereby cleaning the money. When unusually large chip purchases began to be noticed at casinos across Australia, Centrelink began investigating. Officials can track either the dirty money or the chips when they are cashed in once they have identified suspicious activity.

Whether through the cashier or at the gaming tables, any transaction greater than $10,000 requires the proof of identification so large transactions are recorded and thus able to be tracked. Centrelink found 30 cheats who had converted over a million dollars each and the average chip purchase was $155, 000.

Two cases stand head and shoulders above the rest – an elderly pensioner who cashed in $1.5 million and a single mother who converted $1.3 million dollars in chips. Some of the dole recipients were found to have purchased luxurious penthouse apartments and had been enjoying frequent comps from the casinos such as free accommodations and trips.

All cases have been turned over to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions for criminal charges to be filed. (Credit: World Casino Directory)

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Repentant ex-mafia boss says tennis a top target for fixers - The Sydney Morning Herald - 1st January 2009

2009-01-01T13:39:00.002+11:00

Former mafia crime boss Michael Franzese says top-level tennis matches are being influenced by gamblers and the sport would be his prime focus were he still in the business of impacting outcomes.

Franzese, a former boss in the Colombo crime family, serves as a consultant and speaker regarding his days with the mob and has spoken with ATP players about the methods that are used to spread corruption in sport.

"It's definitely going on," Franzese told AFP. "If I were in this business now, tennis would be my major target because one player can impact the game. That's all you need."

An FBI probe in the 1980s and a decade in prison helped push Franzese to change his ways and help those who safeguard the integrity of sport, but his crime contacts lead him to believe organized crime remains involved in tennis.

"I have to believe they are, certainly from the feedbacks I've gotten since I got involved with the ATP," Franzese said. "Sports has become such an incredibly lucrative racket, so to speak, for guys on the street."

Franseze, 57, has spoken with National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, tennis stars and elite US college athletes about the dangers of match-fixers, often counseling newcomers on how to avoid being ensnared in gambling woes.

His talks included a March 2007 session with ATP players.

"They told me there's a problem in the sport. It is something that has to be addressed," he said. "Mainly, I told them how damaging and dangerous it could be for them to get involved in gambling and get around the wrong people.

"Gambling is a very serious business. If you put yourself in a gambling situation, you're most likely going to attract the wrong people because those same people are watching you. They want to find out who's got a gambling problem."

Less than five months after Franzese spoke came a match in Sopot in which unusual on-line betting patterns were registered about Russian Nikolay Davydenko's loss to Argentina's Martin Vassallo-Arguello.

An ATP investigation into the match concluded last September that there was no wrongdoing by Davydenko or his rival.

Franzese remains suspicious.

"He is a pretty top player. Something else is going on there. Somebody has a hook on him," he said.

Franzese claims first-hand expertise at influencing athletes to drop a match to satisfy gamblers, including threats of bodily harm for failure to comply.

"None of these players want to do it. They do it because they're put in a situation," he said. "It's sad because they're doing it against their will. They have no way out. They all regret it. And that's why it's so damaging to their career. Psychologically, it gets to them.

"I've seen it happen so many times. They just can't perform the same. It does affect them. It affects their careers. Sometimes it's irreversible."

The impact on the sport could be as damaging as on the players. If supporters feel betrayed and have no faith the match results are legitimate, interest is likely to fade.

"All of them have a fear of gambling. All of them are not quite sure how to deal with it because they know it can happen at any time," Franseze said.

"In this country, we've had dogfighting incidents, a massive steroid scandal in baseball. They can overcome those things. They will not be able to overcome a major gambling issue.

"Once people start to believe that sports are fixed, that it becomes staged, forget it, the sport is done. Every pro sport knows that."

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New laws delay drinking, playing pokies until 10am, by Patrick Lion and Gabrielle Dunlevy - The Courier-Mail - 31st December 2008

2009-01-01T11:07:00.001+11:00

New Year's revellers will be unable have a beer and a flutter on the pokies first up this morning under one of several new laws effective from today.

The poker machine crackdown comes as the Bligh Government increases every fine by 33 per cent, putting infringements for speeding, parking and smoking in line with other states.

For example, drivers caught using a mobile phone will now cop a $300 fine instead of only $225 previously.

Premier Anna Bligh yesterday said the new hotel opening times would make communities safer.

Almost 900 licensed liquor outlets will not open until after 10am today while others with specific approval to open earlier will have to wait until 9am instead of 7am to serve alcohol.

"There remains more than ample time to have a drink or a flutter with 14 hours trading from 10am to midnight," Ms Bligh said.

On-the-spot fines for public nuisance offences such as urinating in public will also be trialled from today in a move aimed at freeing up the courts.

Today will also herald several policies to better protect householders from noise and air pollution.

The new Environmental Protection Policies will help guide government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and local councils, manage air quality and noise standards.

Councils will be largely responsible for air and noise complaints, but will have greater flexibility in dealing with them.

There will also be changes affecting the building industry.

The Government will enforce tighter controls over the labelling of rainwater tanks that supply water to plumbing fixtures, to ensure they are clearly identified.

A new code for maintaining fire safety installations will be introduced, specifying the maintenance records required.

In tax changes from today, home transfer and home mortgage duty concessions will not be lost if the home is being disposed of due to an event such as a natural disaster, death or incapacity.

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Dikshit deal elicits response from RGA, by Sarah Polson - 18th December 2008

2008-12-22T21:07:00.002+11:00

Anurag Dikshit, one of PartyGaming's founders, may have cut a deal with the U.S. government over online gambling, but that doesn't mean the rest of the industry is willing to roll over on the matter.

The Remote Gambling Association issued a press release on Wednesday in response to Dikshit's deal urging the European Commission to take steps to protect European Union interests from the "retroactive and discriminatory" enforcement by U.S. authorities in online gambling.

Dikshit pleaded guilty to illegal online gambling charges on Tuesday and agreed to pay $300 million to the U.S. government for PartyGaming's online poker and gambling business in the United States prior to the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

PartyGaming never offered sports betting, and ceased to accept U.S. customers for its poker and casino games when the UIGEA was passed.

"These events show that the outgoing U.S. administration and the Department of Justice have shown a total disrespect for the legal rights of European online gaming companies and those associated with them and a complete disregard for U.S. international commitments under GATS," said Clive Hawkswood, RGA chief executive.

In June, EU Commissioner Peter Mandelson wrote to the U.S. government requesting a freeze on all enforcement actions by U.S. authorities against European online gambling companies. Mandelson's reasoning was that the actions violate international trade rules set by the World Trade Organization.

Mandelson asked that prosecutions stop until a proper dialogue can take place, thereby avoiding unnecessary escalation of the dispute.

The EU had already launched an enquiry into U.S. actions following an RGA complaint made under EU Trade Barrier Regulations.

"Not only has that request remained unanswered, but now the U.S. authorities, it seems, have succeeded in pressuring a major shareholder into making a deal. A major line has been crossed, and it could set a very worrying precedent," Hawkswood said.

PartyGaming Plc., which operates PartyPoker, and its shareholders are not obvious targets for illegal online gambling enforcement action, according to the RGA.

The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, is fully licensed in an EU jurisdiction, was among the first to cease accepting U.S. customers once the UIGEA was passed, and has never offered sports betting in order to avoid violating the Wire Act. It does offer online poker and online casino games.

"It's amazing really that a company which has just been voted by the leading industry publication as 'responsible operator of the year' is the one that has been most targeted for this sort of enforcement activity while other businesses that are still active in the U.S. market, including notably U.S. operators, do not appear to be targeted in the same way," Hawkswood said.

He points out that while this is going on, the U.S. Internet gambling market continues to grow and is free to develop its businesses in Europe.

"In the circumstances it is not unreasonable for us once again to seek the support and protection of the European Commission," Hawkswood said. "We hope and believe that these continuing breaches of international law by the U.S. will serve to strengthen the Commission's resolve."

The EC started an investigation into the unfair prosecution of EU-based online gambling companies in March after the RGA brought the issue to the EU's attention.

"The U.S. has been given ample opportunity to respond to the legal and factual arguments presented in our complaint," said Lode Van Den Hende of Herbert Smith, the RGA's law firm in Brussels.

"However, we understand the U.S.' defense has been flimsy and that the Commission will, therefore, have to confirm the RGA's assessment of WTO unlawful, retroactive and discriminatory enforcement. The next question is what will be done about it, given the acceleration of events causing this dispute."

Professor Joseph Weiler, who directs the Jean Monnet Centre for International and European Economic Law and Justice at NYU School of Law, offered his comments as well.

"In this area, the U.S. has lost all its cases and appeals before the WTO's highest judicial authorities. And yet in what can only be described as puzzling and haughty contempt for the rule of law, it is acting as if it won those cases," Weiler said.

"The U.S. is pursuing European nationals and corporations and threatening them with lengthy jail time and punitive fines based on U.S. laws which have already been unequivocally held to be in violation of American WTO obligations. This is without precedent."

Weiler also pointed out that the issue deals a blow to the multilateral trade system at the "worst possible moment" for the world economy and to the Western economies which rely on services for their prosperity.

"It serves no discernable American national interest, and this is a bad day for the reputation of the U.S. in the area of international law," Weiler said.

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O.J. Simpson sentence: at least 9 years, by Melissa Arseniuk - Las Vegas Sun - 5th December 2008

2008-12-07T09:32:00.002+11:00

NFL Hall of Famer could be in prison until age 94, if parole is denied

O.J. Simpson will spend at least nine years in a Nevada prison.

District Court Judge Jackie Glass handed the former NFL star his punishment, 33 years in prison without the possibility of parole for nine years, just after 10 a.m. this morning.

“The evidence in this case was overwhelming,” Glass said. “Overwhelming.”

Dressed in navy blue inmate attire, Simpson addressed the court before receiving his sentence.

“I stand before you today, sorry, somewhat confused,” he said, his voice unsteady as he spoke.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anybody and I didn’t mean to steal from anybody,“ he said. “I didn’t know I was doing anything illegal. I thought I was confronting friends and retrieving my property.”

The All-Star running back was facing a possible life sentence following a run-in with two memorabilia dealers in a Palace Station hotel room last year.

Though Glass declined to impose a life term, her sentence means the former football star could remain incarcerated until he is 94 years old if denied parole.

Simpson and his co-accused, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, were found guilty on Oct. 3 of allegedly robbing the collectibles dealers at gunpoint on Sept 13, 2007.

Simpson, 61, maintained that no guns were involved and that he and his five-man entourage were simply recovering personal items that had been stolen from him.

A secret audio recording of the six-minute altercation captured by the middleman who arranged the meeting, Thomas Ricco, was used as evidence against the accused during the trial.

Simpson and Stewart were convicted on all 12 counts they faced, including two counts of first-degree kidnapping, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

The state had requested Simpson get at least 18 years behind bars while his attorneys asked he serve the minimum, six years.

Simpson’s attorney, Gabriel Grasso, said the defense was disappointed with Glass’s sentence.

“We were expecting less than that,” he said.

Grasso and Simpson’s other lawyer, Yale Galanter, will appeal the decision.

“We’ll file the notice of appeal as soon as we can,” Galanter said yesterday. He said he expected to file the necessary documents this afternoon or first thing Monday morning.

Simpson’s attorneys will ask their client serve his sentence at either the High Desert State Prison or Southern Desert Correctional Center, in Indian Springs.

Stewart was also sentenced today and will serve a lighter prison term than Simpson. Glass sentenced him to 27 years in jail with the possibility of parole until 2016.

His lawyers will also appeal the decision.

District Attorney David Roger offered plea bargains in return for the testimony of the five others who accompanied Simpson and Stewart during the raid.

The accomplices, Charles Cashmore, Charles “Charlie” Ehrlich, and the two who said Simpson asked them to bring guns that fateful day, Michael McClinton and Walter Alexander, testified against Simpson and Stewart. They will be sentenced Tuesday.

(Editor's Note: This story is developing and will be updated. An earlier story is below.)

----

O.J. Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, is hoping his client will receive the minimum sentence when District Court Judge Jackie Glass decides the former NFL star’s fate this morning – but the attorney isn’t kidding himself.

He said he doesn’t know what kind of prison term Simpson will receive.

“I can’t predict,” Galanter said Thursday afternoon.

Simpson, 61, is facing a possible sentence of six years to life behind bars following a confrontation with two memorabilia dealers in a Palace Station hotel room in the fall of 2007.

Regardless of the sentence, Galanter said he will begin the appeal process immediately following Friday’s proceedings. Stewart’s lawyers have also indicated that they will appeal.

“We’ll file the notice of appeal as soon as we can,” Galanter said, adding that he expected to file the necessary documents either Friday afternoon or first thing Monday morning.

The appeal would likely be heard within a year, if accepted.

Simpson was convicted on Oct. 3 of all 12 charges he faced related to the incident, including 11 felonies — two counts each of first degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon; robbery with use of a deadly weapon; assault with a deadly weapon; and coercion with use of a deadly weapon, and one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping; conspiracy to commit burglary; and burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon — and one gross misdemeanor, conspiracy to commit a crime.

The State Parole and Probation Division has asked Glass to send the Heisman Trophy winner away for no less than 18 years but Galanter is hoping the judge will consider a lighter sentence.

Simpson will be transferred to a state penitentiary after receiving his sentence today. Galanter said he did not know which jail his client will be sent to but said the defense will request Simpson go to either the High Desert State Prison or Southern Desert Correctional Center in Indian Springs. Both are medium-security institutions located about 45 minutes from where he’s currently being held and are approximately 25 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Galanter hopes his client’s stay at the prison will be as short as possible.

“Obviously we think that the facts and the circumstances of this case really do call for the minimum sentence,” he said.

“We want (Judge Glass) to (assign the minimum sentence based) on the fact that a, he’s a first time offender … and b, that he did not have any … criminal intent,” Galanter said.

Criminal intent relates to whether or not Simpson knowingly intended to commit a crime. The defense maintained throughout the three-week long trial that Simpson was not simply trying to retrieve items that belonged to him.

“Everything that came into that room had the name O.J. Simpson on it,” Galanter said, referring to the range of Simpson memorabilia the two victims, collectibles dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley, had with them that day.

There were, however, items unrelated to Simpson in Palace Station hotel room 1203 on Sept. 13, 2007, including boxes of Joe Montana lithographs and two dozen baseballs autographed by MLB legends Pete Rose and Duke Snider. Still, the vast majority of memorabilia Fromong and Beardsley were hoping to sell that day was Simpson-related, including NFL game presentation footballs, his 1969 All-Star plaque, and numerous personal and family photos, including one of him with former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

Galanter and Simpson’s other lawyer, Gabriel Grasso, also said, repeatedly, during the trial that their client had no knowledge that any weapons were either planned to be or actually used during the six-minute confrontation.

Ganater suggested the predominantly white, predominantly female jury delivered the unanimous guilty verdict to punish his client over ill-feelings related to Simpson’s 1995 acquittal in the double murder trial of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

The nine-women and three-man jury delivered their guilty verdict in Simpson’s latest case 13 years to the day after the another, predominantly black jury exonerated him of the murders.

The two complaining witnesses and victims, Fromong and Beardsley, will be called as witnesses during tomorrow’s sentencing hearing.

They are the only two witnesses that Glass has agreed to allow take the stand.

“We want to ask them their feelings on this and whether or not they feel crimes were committed,” Galanter said.

Beardsley made it clear when he testified during the trial that he did not want to see Simpson do any jail time. He initially refused to testify and only appeared before the court after being subpoenaed.

Fromong was also sympathetic to the accused and told the court that he felt "angry and hurt” after the incident.

"I was angry and hurt that my best friend had just robbed me at gunpoint," he told the court, noting that neither Simpson nor his co-accused, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, wielded weapons during the alleged robbery.

Simpson did not testify in his defense and has not talked to reporters since the verdict was delivered.

He and Stewart have been held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail for the past 62 days. (Stewart was also convicted on all 12 charges.)

Galanter visited Simpson at the Detention Center Thursday.

He said Simpson has adjusted well since having to trade his 4,200-square-foot Florida home for a 12 by 14-foot jail cell.

“He’s OK,” Galanter said. “Not great, but he’s OK.”

Galanter said Simpson has passed the last two months by doing the same sort of things others do while incarcerated: reading books and playing board games.

"He’s been reading books, playing checkers, playing chess," Galanter said.

Simpson is allowed two books or magazines in his cell at a time, and up to five religious books or articles.

Metro Police public information officer, Ramon Denby, said Simpson is classified as a "protective custody – isolation" inmate, meaning he is kept in strict solitary confinement.

His cell is closed off from the rest of the detention center’s 3,000 inmates and he spends most of his time within the four cinderblock walls of his cell with the door locked shut.

Simpson is allowed outside once a week for 60 minutes.

Denby described the outdoor recreation area as “basically four concrete walls with a mesh cage on top.”

After being sentenced and transferred to a state prison, Simpson will likely remain in protected custody because of his high profile.

(Credit: Las Vegas Sun)

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Mug shots featured in new Japanese game - AP - 14th November 2008

2008-11-29T14:33:00.002+11:00

TOKYO: A Japanese software maker says it's doing its part to help fight crime — by launching an online game featuring mug shots of Japan's most-wanted fugitives.

However, the country's police aren't so crazy about the game "Slot Detective," which has already been played by more than 100,000 people.

Software designer Famista Inc. said Friday that it introduced the free, slot-machine-style game to publicize photographs of suspects in high-profile murder cases, hoping to tap into Japan's obsession with games to help police catch killers.

The game is like a typical slot machine but with mug shots instead of cherries or lemons. When three of the same mug shot line up, the player wins. The jackpots bring details of the suspect and the crime, as well as how to give tips to police and the amount of any reward offered, company official Takashi Saito said.

"We thought this could be a way to contribute to society. If you play the game, you'll remember their faces," Saito said.

Players can access the online game via computers or mobile phones. Saito said an estimated 100,000 people had accessed the game site within hours of its launch, briefly stalling a server.

The National Police Agency said Friday that while authorities appreciate the sentiment, the game inappropriately uses police property for entertainment and could distress victims.

"The mug shots of the suspects should be used in a more socially acceptable manner," the agency said in a statement.

However, police stopped short of outlawing the game and Saito said he thought it might still help — and would also be a hit.

The only problem so far, he said, is that some users said they were "scared by the fierce look of the murder suspects."

"Pachinko" pinball games and a slot-machine-like variation called "pachi-slot" machines are popular in Japan and are played at tens of thousands of brightly lit and noisy parlors across the country.

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2008-11-29T14:26:00.002+11:00

The Godfather

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Crime News Media Profile Updated

2008-11-25T07:35:00.001+11:00

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Vegas bids to cash in with plan for $50m Mob museum, by Kevin Mitchell - The Guardian - 23rd November 2008

2008-11-24T09:34:00.001+11:00

Defiant mayor hopes to rejuvenate his ailing city by celebrating the Mafia's role in its creation

Las Vegas, the desert city with an insatiable thirst for reinvention, is turning to some old friends to reboot its faltering economy: the Mob.

Building projects have stalled up and down the Strip, unheard of in a town where the sound of explosions on worn-out casino sites was as commonplace as gunfire, when the old constantly made way for the new. Now, as credit and the gambling nerve of the hotel bosses dry up simultaneously, the town invented by Bugsy Siegel in the Forties is going back to its dubious past for inspiration.

Work has started on a $50m museum that will open in the spring of 2010 celebrating the Mafia's links with the gambling capital of the world. It is an initiative that excites the mayor, Oscar Goodman, but dismays others weary of the city's historical association with organised crime.

Goodman is more than a mayor. He is a celebrity in a city that lives and dies on fame. He knew Frank Sinatra. He knew John F Kennedy. He knew Marilyn Monroe. This is a town and a civic administration that was as comfortable with the Mob and its attendant guest list as it was with the certainty of another sunny day.

Goodman told The Observer the project was 'as cool as it gets', dismissing suggestions that it might not be universally popular, given the nature of the Mob's activities.

The museum has been the subject of controversy since it was announced in October. 'The Mob museum and media try to romanticise these monsters for money,' wrote a blogger on the Las Vegas Review Journal's website. 'These romantic characters are really just lunatics and degenerates who preyed off society. If Las Vegas wants a museum, build one to commemorate the victims, not the criminals.' There is no denying, though, that exploiting the fascination with gangsters here is a profitable exercise. On a two-and-half-hour, $70 'Mob Tour of Las Vegas' last week, Vinny the guide said that even real-life hoodlums come to have a look.

'Three weeks ago,' he said, 'we had Henry Hill, who is in and out of witness protection, and was played by Ray Liotta in Goodfellas. He was pretty stewed. But he loved it.'

Goodman said: 'Nobody's given me an opinion other than they like it. You want a watercolour museum? You want a porcelain museum?' A robust populist who mines his colourful past as a prop in his political shtick, Goodman is in his third and final term, a Democrat approved by eight out of 10 voters in a city that is an unashamed cathedral to capitalism.

Goodman is no ordinary civic leader. As he is occasionally reminded, over three decades he acted as counsel for some of the country's most notorious mobsters, men who built and ran Las Vegas. His clients included Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal and Anthony 'Tony the Ant' Spilotro, whose barely disguised doppelgangers were portrayed by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in the eerily accurate 1995 movie Casino (in which Goodman had a walk-on part).

And, no, he did not find his own 'Mob history' an embarrassment. 'What? To defend people, and protect their constitutional rights, and make sure that the government doesn't take advantage of them? You find that offensive? That's the reason we left England. OK?

'I don't care whether it is or it isn't [popular]. I care that there are people going in there and spending a lot of money and the city of Las Vegas is getting the fees and the concession money and making a fortune. It's going to be phenomenal. It's going to bring hundreds of thousands of people into our downtown.'

It might be stretching it to say Goodman 'knows where the bodies are buried' in anything other than a metaphorical sense, but he does know how to generate money. And the city that has been his home since he moved to Nevada from Philadelphia in the Sixties as a public defender has rarely needed his entrepreneurial instincts more than now.

Statistics released last week make grim reading: visitor numbers are down 10 per cent, year on year, to 2.9 million in September; room rates have been slashed by 21 per cent as tou6rist numbers dwindle; hotel occupancy is 84.3 per cent, down 7 per cent; across Nevada, gambling revenue dropped 5.4 per cent to just over $1bn; and on the Strip the take was a mere $525.5m for the month, down 5.17 per cent.

Those are numbers of dollars lost by Mr and Mrs Wisconsin at the slot machines, as well as the high-rollers at the baccarat tables. Las Vegas wins because it is full of losers. 'Life is a risk,' said Goodman. 'When I have my drink tonight, I'm risking it may be my last.'

The Mob Museum has been his pet project since he was elected in 1999. He got the idea from an unusual source: the old Post Office down the street from City Hall. It was in that building in 1950 that Senator Estes Kefauver conducted the Nevada leg of his famous inquiry into organised crime, butting up against the intransigence of witnesses unbothered by official scrutiny.

'We hired the folks who are doing the Spy Museum in Washington DC,' Goodman said. 'When you go in there you're going to be mugged, you're going to be booked, you're going to have your Miranda rights [the 'right to remain silent' legislation] given to you. And who knows if you'll ever get out? Because we're going to have machine-guns there, which will be provided by the FBI.'

(Credit: The Guardian)

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Bond lads dine for a song, by Emily Dunn and Kelsey Munro - The Sydney Morning Herald - 18th November 2008

2008-11-19T18:15:00.002+11:00

In what is unlikely to shake the confidence of Daniel Craig, branded the "best Bond ever" by some critics, Sydney is hosting another legendary James Bond this week.

With tough-guy Craig in town to promote the new Bond flick Quantum Of Solace, Sir Roger Moore, who followed Sean Connery as the suave British spy in seven films from 1973's Live And Let Die to 1985's A View To A Kill, arrived yesterday to spruik his autobiography My Word Is My Bond. Knighted in 2003 for his work as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, the urbane Sir Roger was booked to have dinner at ARIA tonight, 24 hours after Craig dined there with 007 producer Barbara Broccoli. Now there's a missed photo opportunity.

Perhaps it's for the best: Moore, now 81, made headlines last week when he told reporters he was "sad" that the new Bond movies were so violent. He, of course, preferred to play up to Bond's womanising ways.

Stay in Touch's mole at ARIA confirmed, disappointingly, that no martinis were ordered by the current Bond's table.

SURPRISE ROLE

The filmmaker Marc Forster admitted yesterday he was surprised when the producers of the James Bond franchise invited him to direct Quantum Of Solace.

"I was a little surprised, I was not so sure I wanted to do a Bond movie," said Forster, best known for films with the "critically acclaimed" tag, included the Academy Award-winning Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland and last year's adaptation of the Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner. Forster's interpretation of the superspy is grittier than most. Following on from where Casino Royale left off, Bond is still heartbroken after and looking to avenge the death of his love interest Vesper and, in the meantime, destroy a crime syndicate seeking to control the water supply of Bolivia.

Forster said some of the crew were none too happy when he chose to film a large part of the production in the streets of Panama City, along with desertscape sequences in Mexico. "I don't think it was as glamorous as what they had in mind," Forster told SiT.

ALL HARD WORK

One cast member who wasn't expecting cocktails in the Caribbean on the set of Bond was the star of the film, Daniel Craig. "That's not really what a Bond film is about," the shoot-'em-up Craig told SiT yesterday.

He said making Quantum of Solace was a natural progression. Casino Royale "felt like the beginning of a story rather than the ending of a story", he said.

And while in Casino Royale he broke the rules by falling in love, this time Craig again snubbed Bond conventions by not going to bed with the leading lady, Camille, played by the Ukrainian-born actress Olga Kurylenko. "It would have been wrong if he had jumped into bed with her … he tends to fall in love a lot in the books, where he meets somebody and there is a passionate connection."

Craig, who is signed for a third Bond film, also denied reports he hoped the next Bond would be played by a black actor. "I never said that … James Bond is a white Etonian … [but] whoever does take it on, however, you want to say to them to have the best time they can because it is an extraordinary thing to do."

(Credit: Fairfax)

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Gatto, Williams hit with casino, racetrack ban, by Michael Warner - Herald Sun - 27th June 2008

2008-11-13T20:35:00.001+11:00

* Gangsters, thugs, dealers banned from casino
* They've also been blacklisted from racetracks
* Gatto and Williams among those banned

A ROGUES' gallery of gangsters, thugs, drug dealers and loan sharks is among a secret group of Victorians banned from Crown casino and 67 racetracks.

The Herald Sun can reveal 33 "undesirables" have been slapped with lifetime bans by police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon.

But in a challenge to her powers, at least two have vowed to fight the bans in the Supreme Court.

Those banned include underworld identity Mick Gatto, alleged Carlton Crew associate Steve Kaya and gangland figure Michael "Eyes" Pastras.

Jailed gangland figure Carl Williams is also blacklisted along with his father George.

Others include convicted money launderer Fadi Sarkis, high-roller Rob Karam and Leanne Allmark, a pathological gambler who stole $1 million to feed a casino pokies addiction.

Photographs have been circulated to police, casino surveillance officers and racing stewards.

Those banned cannot set foot within Melbourne's Southbank casino complex, including restaurants, or any Victorian racetrack.

But the Herald Sun cannot reveal the identity of all 33 individuals because of court proceedings.

The group includes notorious bikies, members of powerful Asian crime gangs and loan sharks caught preying on desperate punters.

Eight of the 33 are women.

The oldest on the list is a grandfather in his 80s.

Section 74 of the Casino Control Act (1991) allows Ms Nixon to "prohibit a person from entering or remaining in a casino".

Most of the bans extend to Victoria's 67 thoroughbred, harness and greyhound tracks, including Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley.

Crown has been a favourite haunt of some of Melbourne's most notorious underworld figures.

Slain Carlton Crew figure Mario Condello was one of the first to be banned. He once pulled a 30cm knife on a fellow gambler in the Mahogany Room toilets, demanding he hand over cash. (Credit: News.com.au)

Gangland war survivor Wrout faces jail term, by Steve Butcher - The Age - 31st October 2008

2008-10-31T16:34:00.001+11:00

One of the few and very lucky survivors of Melbourne's gangland war is fighting a new battle - for his liberty.

With most of the war's players dead or in jail or still looking over their shoulders, Bert Wrout now stares down the barrel of an immediate prison sentence.

Wrout, 66, was shot and seriously wounded when two gunmen burst into the Brunswick club in March 2004.

He was blasted by a man who cannot be named while Wrout's friend and drinking companion, crime figure Lewis Moran, was shot and killed.

Evangelous Goussis, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted earlier this year of the murder and of causing Wrout serious injury.

Wrout lost his spleen, suffered damage to his liver and kidney and has pulmonary tract problems.

Wrout was excused from giving evidence at Goussis' trial, and today in Melbourne Magistrates Court, claimed he was unfit to answer a series of serious driving charges.

If the charges are heard and Wrout is convicted, he faces an immediate four-month term from a suspended sentence in March, which has allegedly been breached by further offending.

His lawyer, Jim Buchecker, said Wrout had been found unfit to plead by a pyschologist in September.

He tendered a series of medical reports including one that found Wrout could not give meaningful legal instructions.

Wrout was found to be mentally fragile, confused, incoherent, anxious and stressed.

But police prosecutor, Senior Constable Clive Dutton, argued that Wrout's fears of being murdered, as expressed by psychologist Bernard Healy, have now passed and were irrelevant to the driving charges.

Magistrate Simon Garnett said Wrout's application to be declared mentally unfit to plead required a full, proper and independent investigation.

He adjourned the hearing until February for Wrout to be assessed by a forensic psychologist.

(Credit: The Age)

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Film Review: Quantum of Solace , by Ray Bennett - The Hollywood Reporter - 24th October 2008

2008-10-25T10:55:00.001+11:00

Bottom Line: All-out thriller with few Bond touches but plenty of high-octane action.

Opens: Friday, Oct. 31 (U.K.); Friday, Nov. 14 (U.S.)

LONDON -- The meanest and leanest James Bond film yet, "Quantum of Solace" is a breathless splash of high-speed action that hurtles from one reckless chase to another.

There's not much solace and few words as the British secret agent exercises his license to kill in dispatching one bad guy after another in the attempt to avenge the death of the lover who died in "Casino Royale."

Fans of that boxoffice smash and the earlier films might be disappointed that the new picture allows hardly any flourishes of style and character in the 007 tradition, but moviegoers seeking an adrenaline rush will be well pleased. Running almost 40 minutes shorter than the bloated "Casino Royale," the film should do bristling business around the world.

So much of the movie comprises furious pursuits in boats, planes and racing automobiles that director Marc Forster owes huge thanks to his talented technical crew. Second unit director Dan Bradley and stunt coordinator Gary Powell, both "Bourne" veterans, must take a large chunk of the credit for all the thrilling encounters that leave credibility in the dust.

Forster's regular cinematographer Robert Schaefer and Oscar-winning production designer Dennis Gassner ("Bugsy") contribute fine work and the intricate assembly by editors Matt Chesse and Richard Pearson is staggeringly effective. A gunfight cut against a lavish performance of "Tosca" is an action triumph.
Jack White's title song passes without notice, but composer David Arnold provides a top-flight action score, keeping the familiar themes to a minimum as they hardly suit Daniel Craig's Bond.

Craig looks incredibly fit, and his manner suggests someone capable of surviving everything that's thrown at him. This Bond is more invincible than ever and shares with Jason Bourne and the kite runner the unerring ability to know exactly where the object of his chase will end up.

Judi Dench has a few good scenes tearing a strip off her favorite agent, and Olga Kurylenko has some serious action of her own, which she renders in high style. Gemma Arterton, however, is a mere bedroom dalliance, and Mathieu Amalric ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") tends to let his character's madness show too much with bulging eyes, one of which threatens to start blinking at any moment.

There are the usual lavish locales, and the film is as efficient as its supercomputers and high-powered weaponry and as sleek as the glamorous settings where Bond catches his breath. There is a danger in this version of Ian Fleming's hero, however. A killer in the movies needs something redeeming about him. Bourne had presumed innocence, and Sean Connery's Bond, while nasty, had ironic wit. Craig's humorless Bond is in danger of becoming simply a very well-dressed but murderous thug.

Production companies: Danjaq, United Artists, Columbia Pictures.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright; Director: Marc Forster; Screenwriters: Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade; Producers: Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson; Executive producers: Callum McDougall, Anthony Waye; Director of photography: Roberto Schaefer; Production designer: Dennis Gassner; Music: David Arnold; Costume designer: Louise Frogley; Editors: Matt Chesse, Richard Pearson.

Rated PG-13, running time 106 minutes.

Media Man Australia Profiles

James Bond

CBS "60 Minutes" Segment On Online Poker Cheating Scandals To Air Soon!

2008-10-22T12:51:00.001+11:00

In addition to the buzz around the seizure of 141 internet gambling domains by the Governor of Kentucky, an upcoming story by CBS’ “60 Minutes” has also been the center of discussion at the CAP Euro Barcelona event. Poker News Daily has learned that the story by “60 Minutes” should air on Sunday, October 26th, just days before the general elections in the United States. The program will likely cover the user scandals at Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, which have made headlines across the poker world in recent months.

The story by the longstanding news magazine will focus on the scandals that have rocked Ultimate Bet and may include the POTRIPPER issues at its sister site, Absolute Poker. In addition, the rumor around the industry is that “60 Minutes” is teaming up with a major newspaper for the story, which may be just weeks from airing. In its last update on the NioNio scandal that rocked the online poker site, Ultimate Bet listed additional user names that were involved: Crackcorn55, WhakMe, GrabBag123, gravitation, Bgroup, H_Curtis, Twenty 1, WacoManiac, Broke_In_L_A, ShaqTack, BlueBerry101, HolyMucker, 55WasHere, Xnomas, dannyboy55, Indy05, and SlimPikins2.

The cheating on Ultimate Bet began back in 2005, one year before its current ownership group, Tokwiro, purchased the site. Also in June, Ultimate Bet was scheduled to begin the refund process for players who were affected by the abuse. The transgressions surrounded the exploitation of an auditing tool which enabled its users to view the hole cards of every player at an online poker table.

In May, Ultimate Bet’s parent company released a statement that included the following: “We would like to thank our customers for their patience, loyalty, and support, as well as for their understanding that we are doing everything we can to correct this situation. The staff and management of Ultimate Bet are fully committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our players and we want to assure customers of our unwavering resolve to monitor site security with every resource at our disposal.”

Since then, one of the accounts in question was linked to a Las Vegas owned home of Russ Hamilton, one of the former owners of the site. However, no admission has been given publicly by Hamilton. Over the summer, Team PokerStars Pro member Barry Greenstein and Joe Sebok traveled to Hamilton’s residence. Greenstein came away from the interview feeling as if, by the time the truth was known, Hamilton would not be one of those indicted.

A $75 million claim filed against a software manufacturer was the subject of an article by MSNBC with the title “Poker site cheating plot a high-stakes whodunit.” The article, which was published last week, seemed to trump any momentum “60 Minutes” would have had, although the television station’s program is likely to be more visible.

The latest move in the Ultimate Bet investigation was the Kahnawake Gaming Commission naming Frank Catania, a former gaming regulator in the state of New Jersey, to lead a formal inquiry into the matter. His website, CataniaConsulting.com, states that he “serves as one of three independent directors of eCOGRA. He served as the first president of the International Masters of Gaming Law, a non-profit association dedicated to the education and advancement of gaming law, vice chair and chair, respectively, of the International Association of Gaming Regulators and past chairman of the Forum of American Casino Regulators.”

Media Man Australia Profiles

Casino News

60 Minutes

Poker and Casino News

Shooting starts for second Underbelly series - The Australian - 17th October 2008

2008-10-20T09:39:00.003+11:00

A second series of the acclaimed Underbelly TV drama went into production today dogged by the question of whether it would it be as good as the original. Underbelly - A Tale of Two Cities will focus on the illegal drug trade in the 1970s, a long way from the more recent Melbourne drug wars portrayed in the hit series which aired on Nine this year. Instead of Carl and Roberta Williams the villains will be Aussie “Bob” Trimbole and Terry “Mr Asia” Clark.

Announcing the start of start of production in Sydney and Melbourne, the head of drama for the Nine Network Jo Horsburgh said “the series is proving to be as rich and exciting as the first series”. Nine is desperate to make Underbelly 2 the hit it was the first time around. Other Nine dramas this year, including Canal Road and The Strip have not fared so well. It wasn’t screened in Victoria until recently because it may have influenced the outcome of a trial.

Comparisons between Underbelly 1 and 2 are inevitable. Producers Screentime have been under pressure to come up with a prequel or a sequel ever since Nine attracted big audiences for Underbelly earlier this year. Should it be a prequel looking at the same Melbourne criminals when they were younger or a sequel now they’re all dead or in jail?

Eventually, producers decided to go right back to another rich period in Australia’s criminal history between 1976 and 1986 - but many younger viewers were not alive when anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay was a household name.

Screentime’s executive producer Des Monaghan emphasised the series would be an improvement and not a disappointment: “We are very excited about Underbelly - A Tale of Two Cities - which promises to be even bigger and better than the first series”.

Actors Roy Billing (Trimbole), Andrew McFarlane (anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay) Matthew Newton (Terry Clark) and Peter O’Brien (George Freeman) have already been cast.

(Credit: The Australian)

Greg Tingle comment

I think the second series is likely to be as good, but not quite as popular as the original. There’s only even one first and the massive media and public buzz, fueled by then current criminal proceedings, backed up by frequent reference to Network Nine in the courts and the papers, all point to that equation. David Gyngell at the team at Nine have hit the jackpot with Underbelly, and let’s hope it doesn’t get prostituted to Crocodile Dundee III depths, where it makes money (again) at expense to its legacy and overall high production standards. Great to see Matthew Newton cast this time around (as everyone knows its going to be a winner, as opposed to an unknown quantity last time the cattle call was done), and it would be something to see Newton right there in the mix with Reb, Gyton Grantly (Carl), Westaway (Gatto) and the crew. I wonder if there’s going to do much with the storyline on my old mate Bert Wrout, who teases that he knows where a number of the bodies are buried! Sometimes the real news doesn’t make the news, as in some matters revolving around Wrout, however Australia eagerly awaits the next installments of prime time gangsters and mobsters Aussie style down under. Not sure what its going to do for Australia’s image on the tourism front, but that’s another story. I don’t foresee Baz getting dragged into advertising or PR scenarios for this portray of some of Australia’s society happenings. Maybe we can expect to see a dash of product placement re Packer’s Crown Casino, or maybe they don’t want to get quite that real to the true story of Melbourne’s underworld? If this show doesn’t fire up James’ passion for Australian television, nothing will. It’s all good fodder for the papers and should keep Nine out of the doldrums it was in a few years ago.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Underbelly

O. J. Simpson Found Guilty in Robbery Trial, By Steve Friess - The New York Times - 4th October 2008

2008-10-04T17:14:00.002+10:00

LAS VEGAS — A jury here Friday night found O. J. Simpson guilty on all counts in his robbery and kidnapping trial, a verdict that came 13 years to the day after Mr. Simpson was acquitted in the highly publicized murders of his ex-wife and her friend.

The 12 charges that Mr. Simpson faced stemmed from a September 2007 confrontation in a casino hotel room in which he and five cohorts departed with hundreds of items of sports memorabilia.

In the courtroom as the verdict was read, Mr. Simpson showed no emotions. He was led away in handcuffs and taken into custody. His sister, Carmelita, who was sitting in the front row, broke down in tears.

The items were in the possession of two memorabilia dealers, Bruce L. Fromong and Alfred Beardsley, who were led to believe a prospective buyer was coming to browse the goods. Instead, Mr. Simpson and his group burst into the room and, according to several witnesses, at least one gun was brandished.

The jury of nine women and three men, who deliberated for 13 hours, mulled weeks of testimony as well as hours of surreptitious audio recordings of the planning and execution of the event by Thomas Riccio, a memorabilia auctioneer who arranged the confrontation.

Mr. Simpson, 61, and a co-defendant, Clarence Stewart, 54, are facing 15 years to life on the kidnapping charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5.

Mr. Simpson has said he was seeking to retrieve only personal keepsakes like ceremonial footballs from his Hall of Fame N.F.L. career and photos of his family that years ago were taken from his home; the prosecutors said he should have filed a civil lawsuit to regain the items if they were, in fact, stolen from him.

“We don’t want people going into rooms to take property,” said David Roger, the Clark County district attorney who led the prosecution. “That is robbery. You don’t go in and get a gun and demand property from people.”

Four of the 24 witnesses who testified were the other men who accompanied with Mr. Simpson and Mr. Stewart, all of whom have accepted plea deals from prosecutors in exchange for testimony. Two of those men, Walter Alexander and Michael McClinton, carried guns in the incident and one, Mr. McClinton, testified that he did so at Mr. Simpson’s request.

Mr. Simpson said he did not know the two would carry weapons and never saw any guns displayed during the incident.

The proceedings failed to capture the intense public interest that turned Mr. Simpson’s 1995 trial into the so-called Trial of the Century. That spectacle became a racial touchstone and turned a list of legal analysts including Greta Van Sustern, Jeffrey Toobin and Star Jones into television stars. Few of the news media stars involved in that case flocked to this one, although Dominick Dunne of Vanity Fair was a notable exception. Marcia Clark, the former prosecutor who failed to convict Mr. Simpson in 1995 did not appear despite securing media credentials to report for Entertainment Tonight.

The case played out against the backdrop of a nation more interested in the presidential election campaign and the nation’s economic crisis. It also featured victims who were far less sympathetic: two middle-aged memorabilia dealers who tried to profit from their roles in this case by trying to sell their stories to the tabloid media.

The defense focused much of its efforts on discrediting Mr. Fromong, Mr. Beardsley and the four men who assisted Mr. Simpson and Mr. Stewart in the alleged robbery. On several occasions, Simpson attorneys Yale Galanter and Gabriel Grasso caught those witnesses in apparent contradictions, as when Mr. Fromong insisted he did not try to sell his story despite audio recordings immediately after the incident in which Mr. Fromong is heard saying: “I’ll have ‘Inside Edition’ down here tomorrow. I told them I want big money.”

A measure of the limited public interest in the case may be that Frederic Goldman, the father of Ronald Goldman, admitted he followed the proceedings “only generally” from his home in Phoenix. Still, with a verdict coming he sharpened his focus.

“At the absolute least, I’d like to see him in jail,” Mr. Goldman said Friday of Mr. Simpson. “He’s not going to get the punishment for Ron’s murder that he deserved, but at least he should be in jail for as long as they can put him there.”

While Mr. Simpson’s acquittal in the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, was never discussed during the trial, it hung over the proceedings. Jurors were quizzed extensively before their selection about their views of that trial, and references were made in some of the audio recordings to the fact that Mr. Simpson owes the estate of Ms. Simpson and Mr. Goldman $33.5 million because in 1997 he was held liable in a civil lawsuit for the deaths.

Mr. Galanter attacked that issue in his closing, noting that Mr. Riccio’s recorder picked up police officers at the crime scene seeming to exult in their chance to prosecute Mr. Simpson. He also noted that Mr. Riccio testified he had made more than $200,000 in fees from the news media in exchange for interviews and rights to his recordings.

“This case has never been about a search for the true facts,” Mr. Galanter said. “This case has taken on a life of its own because Mr. Simpson’s involved. You know that, I know that, every cooperator, every person with a gun, every person who signed a book deal, every person who got paid money, the police, the district attorney’s office, was only interested in one thing: Mr. Simpson.”

Media Man Australia Profiles

Sports News

Casino News Media

Bana rejects Underbelly role - The Age - 12th September 2008

2008-09-30T08:51:00.001+10:00

Eric Bana has rejected an offer to appear in the second series of the hit TV gangland crime drama Underbelly.

The A-list Australian actor, who is a fan of the TV show, has been approached by the Nine Network for the upcoming prequel but is unavailable, his manager said today.

Bana is currently filming for the comedy Funny People with Adam Sandler, while Underbelly 2 is due to start shooting in Sydney next month.

"Eric was grateful to be approached but is focusing on various film commitments," his manager Lauren Bergman said today.

Earlier in the year, the Chopper actor said he was disappointed he hadn't been approached for the first series.

While casting for the much anticipated show has not been finalised, a number of well-known actors had been approached, a Nine Network spokeswoman said.

Nine is keeping secret many of the details but the spokeswoman said the cast and content would be vastly different from the first hit series. It centred on Victoria's infamous underworld wars, which raged from 1995 to 2004, leaving 27 people dead.

The prequel will be set in the '70s and '80s and based mainly in Sydney, in King's Cross, and partly in Melbourne.

"It's going to be a whole new set of characters based on real life people," the spokeswoman said.

She also confirmed that actors from the first series like Les Hill, who played Jason Moran, Callan Mulvey, who starred as Mark Moran, and Damian Walshe-Howling, who played Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin, would not be in the production.

"Due to the era, those characters would've been teenagers, hence why the actors can't play them," the spokeswoman said.

The network could not confirm rumours that the show will focus on the background of Vince Colosimo's character Alphonse Gangitano - known as the Black Prince Of Lygon Street.

Nine chief executive David Gyngell previously said he expected the show to air from February next year.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Underbelly

Network Nine Australia

Underwhelming Underbelly, by Debi Enker - The Age - 25th September 2008

2008-09-28T07:49:00.001+10:00

The gripping dramatised account of Melbourne's gangland wars made a delayed debut on its home turf last week, following a seven-month legal ban on its screening. The Nine Network's crime series Underbelly launched with a double episode on Sunday, followed by a Tuesday night screening against Seven's thriving local drama, Packed to the Rafters.

Underbelly's Victorian launch was halted at the last minute in February when Supreme Court Justice Betty King ruled that its airing could affect cases still before the courts. It screened in the other mainland capitals, drawing solid audiences of about 1.25 million viewers.

At the time, it was estimated that Melbourne, arguably the 13-part drama's major market, would have added about 800,000 viewers to that tally. If the series had screened then and those estimates had proved accurate, Underbelly would be vying with Packed to the Rafters for the title of Australia's most popular drama series in 2008.

Earlier this month, Supreme Court judge Peter Vickery ruled that Nine could screen edited versions of the first five episodes in Melbourne. Some dialogue was altered, a few scenes trimmed and one actor's face pixelated.

It's fair to assume that at least some of those who would've been sitting eagerly in front of their tellys in February might have managed to see the drama before it made its debut here. Although not for sale in Victoria, 265,000 copies of the DVD set of the series have sold elsewhere since May and it's reasonable to assume that some of them have made their away over the border. It's also impossible to estimate how many people had already seen pirated episodes or those downloaded from the internet, although anecdotal evidence suggests it might be a fair few.

Those factors affected the numbers that Nine did achieve. Averaging a healthy 593,000 viewers for its second hour and 578,000 for the first, it was the top-rating show in Melbourne on Sunday night and a drawcard for Nine. But the figures were much lower than those anticipated earlier in the year and Tuesday night's episode (429,000) was soundly beaten by Packed to the Rafters (589,000).

There's been no word yet on when, or if, the remaining episodes will screen here. However, Nine has commissioned Underbelly2, to be shot in Sydney and Melbourne later this year and expected on air early in 2009.

In addition to Underbelly, Sunday night was interesting for a number of reasons.

Nine's new home show, Battlefronts, hosted by Gian Rooney, made a solid debut, attracting 1.28 million viewers, although it wasn't quite as strong in that slot as its predecessor, Domestic Blitz.

60 Minutes presented its much-touted interview between former federal treasurer and recent author, Peter Costello, and Ray Martin, who was inducted back into the show for the occasion. With 1.68 million viewers, it was the top-rating program of the night nationally, trouncing the ailing Dancing with the Stars.

Attracting 1.16 million viewers (No.31 nationally), the dance contest is a pale shadow of its once-robust self in ratings terms. Yes, it's continuing to perform for Seven by drawing more than a million people to a key timeslot. But in its heyday, Dancing was a Top5 performer and could be counted on to attract around 1.8 million viewers.

Seven did, though, have the top six programs nationally, a tally headed for the third consecutive week by Packed to the Rafters. In Melbourne, Seven won the week with a 29.2% audience share, ahead of Nine (26.7%), Ten(22.7%), ABC1 (16.6%) and SBS (4.8%).

Media Man Australia Profiles

Underbelly

The company he keeps, by Adele Ferguson and Gary Hughes - The Australian - 13th September 2008

2008-09-13T16:45:00.002+10:00

Tom Karas has come a long way from the days when he was chased down the street on Nine's A Current Affair in 1995 over allegations he had cheated customers in a $3 million basketball cards vending machine scam.

And he has moved on considerably from financial problems that saw him declared bankrupt in 1997. Perched in his ninth floor office overlooking Melbourne's old police complex, he talks about his humble beginnings in inner Melbourne as the son of Greek migrants and his battle to start again and build his own successful finance and mortgage business, State Securities Group.

In fact Karas, 44, could pass for just another self-made success story were it not for his colourful clients and associates, which has seen him accused in court of money laundering for a notorious Melbourne crime family.

Denying such allegations, he readily admits to having among his customers, associates and friends the likes of Mick Gatto, the head of the Carlton Crew who was acquitted of murdering underworld hit man Andrew "Benji" Veniamin on the grounds of self-defence; members of a prominent Melbourne crime family; and John Khoury, a Gatto business associate who police alleged in court was also part of a money-laundering ring.

"I have a business relationship with Mick Gatto. I have lent him money as well as members of his family, and he refers a lot of business my way," Karas says.

Khoury, explains Karas, is also a friend and leases office space from State Securities to run a business involved in hotels.

The pair turned a quick profit after buying and quickly reselling Melbourne's Metro nightclub, although Karas denies he was acting as a front for Gatto in the deal. He says that is just one of many damaging rumours spread about him by his enemies.

He and Khoury often go on trips together to casinos in places such as Macau, although Karas insists he's just along for the ride. "I'm not a gambler, but John is a higher roller so you get comp everything," he explains.

When Gatto flew to Singapore in April with Khoury chasing the missing millions from the collapse of stockbroker Opes Prime earlier this year, he gave out the telephone number of Karas's State Securities on radio for people wanting to contact him to help recover their money. Gatto and Khoury were close enough for Karas to invite them to the christenings of both his children, one in 2006 and the second in May this year. On the second occasion Karas took guests on a cruise down the Yarra River while singer Vanessa Amorosi kept them entertained.

Karas also mixes with some of Melbourne's highest flyers. In 2005 he joined a group of others, including one of Australia's richest men, Bruno Grollo, on a visit to China to undergo stem cell treatment that promised to make them live longer. The treatment reportedly cost up to $40,000 a session and involved a series of injections with secret stem-cell activation material.

Then there is multimillionaire day share trader and car enthusiast Leo Khouri, claimed to be one of Opes Prime's biggest accounts, with shares worth $50 million tied up in the crash. Karas and Khouri were friends until reportedly falling out in December over a controversial deal over a Melbourne quarry and waste tip last year that is being investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Karas says there is no magic formula to his financial success but hard work.

"It is hard work and a lot of luck," he says. "It's a family business."

His biggest break, he explains, came about because his parents were too poor to join the exodus out of the inner working class suburb Fitzroy in the 1960s and '70s, when many migrant families moved to new housing developments on Melbourne's outskirts.

Instead the family stayed put and later Karas began buying Fitzroy properties while they were still cheap.

The gentrification of Fitzroy and spiralling property prices meant he could then borrow against those assets to add to his property holdings and later build his State Securities loans business. "I managed to buy three houses cheap and they went up with the property boom. I then used that as equity to buy other properties," he says.

He now owns houses, a retail complex and nightclub in the inner Melbourne suburb of Thornbury, and the floor of the LaTrobe Street office building where he runs State Securities.

His business acumen -- he boasts of having pulled his money out of Opes Prime just a week before it collapsed after a tip-off -- has earned Karas a regular seat at Gatto's table at Bourke Street restaurant Society, where the colourful identity can be found on most days.

Karas also admits he has done well on the share market, often investing in the same small resources companies as Khouri. He also owns a stake in the broking company Findlay & Co, which operated at one time out of State Securities' office and was coincidentally involved in many of the companies in which Karas and Khouri traded shares.

The charming and fast-talking Karas enjoyed relative anonymity until October last year, when Purana gangland taskforce detectives went to Victoria's Supreme Court to seize control of an up-and-coming racehorse under proceeds of crime laws, alleging the animal was really owned by a member of a Melbourne crime family.

The horse was three-quarters owned by Karas's wife, Irene Meletsis, despite Karas telling detectives neither he nor his wife had ever been to a racetrack.

In an affidavit filed with the court, detectives said they believed the horse and a number of loans organised through Karas's State Securities Group for the crime family member and his wife were "part of a large-scale money laundering operation" involving profits from alleged drug trafficking.

Records seized by the police in a raid on Karas's office showed one of the loans to the crime family for $100,000 supposedly came from a company called United Hotel Group Ltd, of which the sole director and shareholder is Khoury. The ownership of the horse was frozen, although a judge later allowed it to be auctioned for $1.8 million, with Karas's share of the money being held by the court.

Karas says he does not know when he will return to court to fight the legal battle to get the money. He strenuously denies the racehorse or the loans to the crime family were part of any money-laundering scheme. The horse came into his ownership, says Karas, simply because a borrower defaulted on a loan.

Karas says he can do without the publicity and attention he gets, in particular from Purana, ASIC and the Australian Taxation Office, which are all investigating his business deals. "I just want to be left alone," he pleads. (Credit: The Australian).

Crime (Wikipedia)

2008-08-23T17:40:00.000+10:00

A crime is when a person does something that is against the laws of a country. A person who does this is called a criminal.

The basic idea of what things are called crimes is that they are thought to be things that might cause a problem for another person. Things like killing another person, injuring another person, or stealing from another person are crimes in most countries.

But different countries have many different ideas of what things are crimes. Some things that are crimes in one country are not crimes in other countries. Many countries get their ideas of what things are crimes from religions.

In many countries, if people say they made or wrote a book, movie, song, or Web page that they didn't really write or make, it is a crime against the laws of copyright. In many countries, helping to grow, make, move, or sell illegal drugs is a crime.

In most countries, police try to stop crimes and to find criminals. When the police find someone who they think might be a criminal, they usually hold the person in a jail. Then, usually, a court or a judge decides if the person really did a crime. If the court or judge decides that the person really did it, then he or she might have to pay a fine or go to prison. Sometimes the judge might decide that the criminal should be executed (killed). This is called Capital punishment (or the Death Penalty). There are countries in the world who execute criminals, and others who do not.

When some criminals make money from crime, they try to stop the police finding out where the money came from by money laundering. (Credit: Wikipedia)

The Crown's case against Gordon Wood, by Kate McClymont - The Sydney Morning Herald - 30th July 2008

2008-07-30T17:08:00.002+10:00

It was a bitterly cold and windy winter's night when Caroline Byrne plunged to her death at The Gap on June 7, 1995. The air was thick with sea spray and visibility was almost zero.

Despite this, the man accused of her murder was able to lead her family to the location of her body using only the feeble light of a torch borrowed from nearby fishermen, a Supreme Court jury has heard.

Gordon Eric Wood, 45, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, a 24-year-old model, who fell to her death at Watsons Bay in Sydney's east.

In his opening address Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC, said that in the weeks before her death Byrne had confided to a friend, "Sometimes I fear for my life with Gordon" and that she wanted to leave him because of his possessiveness and jealous fits.

The jury heard Wood was terrified about Byrne leaving because she might disclose what Mr Tedeschi described as "serious, illegal insider trading activity" that Wood and his boss, the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin, had been involved in with regard to Rivkin's printing company Offset Alpine Printing. The company had been over-insured when it burned down in a 1993 fire.

The day before Byrne was murdered Wood and Rivkin had given evidence at an Australian Securities Commission investigation into the unusual share price movements in Offset Alpine.

Mr Tedeschi said that Wood had misled the investigators when he said he had no knowledge of Rivkin's affairs and that he was just a " bag carrier"' for the stockbroker.

Had it emerged that either of them had knowledge of the fire or the subsequent massive increase in the company's share price, they could have been prosecuted for "serious corporate offences," Mr Tedeschi said.

He also said there was not "the slightest skerrick of evidence" implicating Rivkin in the death of Byrne.

About 11.30pm on June 7, 1995, witnesses at The Gap heard a scream which sounded like "someone expressing terror or horror".

Earlier that evening about 8pm, John Doherty, who was living in an apartment on Military Road, near The Gap, heard arguing outside his flat. On opening his window he saw a woman, distressed and moaning out loud, sitting in the gutter. Mr Tedeshi said her face was down and covered by her long hair.

Above her stood a tall man who was arguing with her. For 10 to 20 minutes the argument continued and then they moved further down the road, the jury heard. Mr Doherty later identified Gordon Wood as being the man he saw that night.

Two hours later Mr Doherty heard the same voices again but they were further away. For another hour the arguments continued until there was a loud scream, Mr Tedeschi said.

Two fishermen also recalled hearing an unusual scream about 11.30pm, which sounded like someone expressing "terror or horror".

About 12.30am the fishermen recalled seeing Wood, who was calling out, "Caroline, Caroline," and asking if they had seen a young woman.

At 12.40pm, Wood called Tony Byrne, Caroline's father at his home at the Connaught apartment building in Sydney's CBD. Staying with Tony was Caroline's brother Peter, who just arrived back in Australia after a six-week trip to Japan. Wood told them he found Caroline's car at The Gap and that she was missing.

Caroline arranged to meet her family that night but calls to her home and mobile phone during the day, from both her father and brother, had gone unanswered. She also did not turn up to work.

They were also unsuccessful in reaching Wood on his mobile, the court heard. Wood arrived at the Connaught 15 minutes later driving a red pick-up truck, which belonged to Rivkin.

As they drove towards The Gap the Byrnes asked Wood how he knew where to find her, Wood replied: "I don't know. I just have this feeling."

He took them to Byrne's soft-topped Suzuki car which was parked in Gap Lane. He opened the car with a key and took out her wallet, handing it to her brother. He asked Peter to look in the wallet to see if there was anything relevant.

Byrne found nothing of interest except a note from a male admirer who had spotted Caroline in a coffee shop and left her a note with his phone number.

Handing back the wallet to Wood, the Byrnes were astonished when Wood took the cash out of her wallet and pocketed it, Mr Tedeschi said.

Wood then led Tony and Peter Byrne on a search round the clifftop. It was cold, windy and they could barely make out the pathway in front of them.

The court heard that when they came across the two fishermen, Tony asked them if they'd seen a tall, blonde woman. The fishermen said that they'd heard a scream an hour or so earlier and then one of the fishermen said to Wood: "I saw you here earlier" to which Wood replied , "I was out here about an hour ago."

One of them lent Wood a torch, the battery of which was almost flat, resulting in a feeble light.

It was so cold that Tony Byrne went back to the truck, leaving Wood and his son to continue the search. Shining the weak torch light over the cliff, Wood claimed he could see something. "Can you see that, Peter? It looks like legs and a body," Wood said.

Mr Tedeschi said that Peter Byrne, who had excellent eyesight, couldn't see "a single, solitary thing." He couldn't see the bottom of the cliff, let alone a body, Mr Tedeschi told the jury.

"She's gone, Peter, she's gone," Wood told him.

It was at that very location, some hours later, that Byrne's body was found.

The Crown's case is that it was not physically possible to see Byrne's body through the darkness and that the only reasonable inference the jury could draw from Wood's knowledge of the position of the body was that " he was present when she went over the edge of the cliff".

The three went to Rose Bay police station, where Wood produced a referral that Caroline had obtained from her GP to see a psychiatrist. She had an appointment on the afternoon of her death, which not only did she not keep but which she did not cancel.

She earlier told her GP that she felt down but assured her doctor she was not feeling like harming herself.

"She was depressed. Here, read it," Wood said to Tony Byrne, handing him the referral. The Crown's case is that Wood used the referral to convince others that his girlfriend committed suicide.

A number of police accompanied the Byrnes and Wood back to The Gap. With their torches, police couldn't see anything, nor could the powerful searchlight of the helicopter. But Wood was adamant he could see her. "I know she's down there. I can't believe she's done this," he told police on the night, the jury heard.

At 4.40pm, police finally located her body where Wood said it was. The Crown case is that because of the bad visibility, Wood could only have known she was in that location if he had been present when she was thrown from The Gap.

Mr Tedeschi said there would be scientific evidence given to show that a strong man, using a "spear throw", had hurled Byrne off the cliff. Wood, who was able to bench press more than 100kg at the time and who had been a personal fitness instructor, was capable of such a throw, the jury heard.

Five days after her death, Wood told police Byrne was sick with the flu on the day of her death and that she was in bed when he left for work. When he came home at 1pm she was still in bed and he found she had taken one of his Rohypnol sleeping tablets, he said.

He also said he had gone to lunch with friend Brett Cochrane and another person, but that he had to leave before eating his meal to pick up Rivkin. When he returned home later in the afternoon, she wasn't there, the court heard.

About 7pm he had come home again and she was still not there. He said he assumed she was with her doctor or her at her father's. He claimed to have fallen asleep in front of the television and woken up at 12.40am to find she was not there.

The jury heard Wood told police he immediately knew something was wrong. He walked from his Elizabeth Bay unit to Crown Street in Darlinghurst where Rivkin kept some of his cars. He took one that he usually never drove, a red pick-up truck, and drove to the Connaught but couldn't see her car parked there. He told police he had then driven to Bondi and then to The Gap, where at 1.30am he'd found her car. He also found the fishermen and then went to pick up Tony and Peter.

The prosecution claims there was not sufficient time to drive around to all those places as well as returning to the city to collect the Byrnes.

The other odd thing, said Mr Tedeschi, was that Wood had his phone turned off from 5.48pm on the day of the murder until four minutes after police located her body at 4.40am the next morning. This was despite Wood being on 24-hour call for Rivkin, he said. The jury also heard Wood did not ring his message bank to check if he had any messages, which the Crown says is strange for someone who was concerned about his missing girlfriend.

Nor did he attempt to call her mobile or to contact her family to see if she was with them, the Crown said.

Two days after her death, Wood told Caroline's brother Peter that "Caroline's spirit told me where to find her".

News

Media Man Australia News

Nine's Underbelly blitz targets new top ratings - The Daily Telegraph - 22nd July 2008

2008-07-29T05:15:00.001+10:00

Channel Nine CEO David Gyngell will officially give the green light to the hugely anticipated Underbelly prequel during a network presentation to media buyers and advertisers tonight.

In addition to toasting Nine's ratings turnaround and outlining the planned highlights for the remainder of the year's schedule, Gyngell will formally motion the bloodshed to resume - on Underbelly, not the rival networks, that is.

Speaking exclusively to Confidential yesterday, the ironically media-shy boss said that he was "really excited" about the 13-episode series scheduled to begin production in September.

"The best television drama always warrants a second season and Underbelly is no exception," he said.

Gallery: The controversial series Underbelly

"It was the best television many of us have seen in a very long time."

Involving most of the stellar cast from the first gangland epic series - with a heavy focus on Vince Colosimo's character Alphonse Gangitano - the prequel will converge on building the background to the colourful characters.

And it will show their involvement in the Melbourne underworld before the arrest of Carl Williams in 2004.

Already unashamedly positioned as Nine's ratings linchpin in next year's ratings war, Gyngell is backing the gritty production with full force.

"It was compulsive viewing this year and we aim to make it compelling in 2009. We'll have the production team and cast to do just that," he said.

The series brought fame to Kat Stewart who played Roberta Williams, and Gyton Grantley who played her drug-running husband Williams.

Are you excited by the news?

13-episode series to begin production in September

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Underbelly

Gordon Wood trial to start today, by Kate McClymont - The Sydney Morning Herald - 28th July 2008

2008-07-28T14:25:00.001+10:00

The murder trial of Gordon Wood, the former chauffeur of the late businessman Rene Rivkin, is expected to commence this afternoon.

Wood is accused of murdering his model girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, whose body was found at the base of The Gap in June 1995.

An unusually large number of potential jurors assembled in the historic Supreme Court building in inner-city Darlinghurst this morning.

Potential jurors were asked to excuse themselves if they knew Wood or other potential witnesses who included former ALP heavyweight Graham Richardson, adman John Singleton, paparazzi photographer Jamie Fawcett and entertainer Tanya Zaetta.

The Crown is planning to call between 94 and 104 witnesses and the trial is expected to last for up to 16 weeks.

Empanelling of the jury will be finished after the lunchtime adjournment, and Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC , is expected to deliver his opening address to the jury this afternoon.

Media Man Australia

News

Aussie teenagers tackle cyber crime at global forum - The Age - 18th July 2008

2008-07-19T23:10:00.001+10:00

Faced with the danger of online predators, fraudsters and bullies, a group of Australian teenagers are putting their heads together with others from around the world to tackle internet crime.

Ten teenagers from Canberra have flown to England to take part in a unique five-day forum giving young people a say on the best ways to protect them in cyberspace.

A total of 150 teenagers aged 14 to 17 from 19 countries are attending the International Youth Advisory Council (IYAC) in the hope they can come up with fresh strategies for governments, businesses and police worldwide to follow.

Many of those at the forum will draw on their own experiences of being targeted by cyber bullies, fraudsters and predators.

Canberra teenager Anthony, 15, said he frequently came across "fake" people while surfing the net and through his online business hosting gaming websites.

"What happens on the internet, people don't think it's 'real'," he told AAP.

"They think it's just fantasy. So we need to stay safe and they need to keep us safe.

"If we can tell them how to do that for the billions of kids out there, that's fantastic."

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has backed the forum and sent five staff along with the Canberra teenagers.

Before they left, AFP officers worked with the group on new cyber crime strategies which are expected to be expanded when they return to Australia.

"We realised the only way that us as 30, 40, 50 year olds can develop robust and meaningful strategies that deliver to young people is to actually give young people a voice and to listen to what they've got to say," head of the AFP's high tech crime unit Kevin Zuccato said.

"What concerns them the most is cyber bullying, identity theft and attribution, in terms of 'how do I know who I'm talking to' (in chatrooms and on social networking sites).

"So they're actually concerns about how do I identify myself in the internet, how do I make sure no one steals that identity and hassles me out or slags my name off, how do I know who I'm talking to so I'm sure I can safeguard myself.

"That to me was really interesting and demonstrates that getting these guys in, listening to what they've got to say, giving them an opportunity to participate is going to steer us in the right direction."

Ella, 15, from Canberra, said the key was educating young people about the internet so they could use it safely rather than putting them off because of the risks.

"You don't want to put people off the internet, because it's a great resource," she said.

"But you do want to warn people of the dangers and give them strategies when they are faced with those dangers."

The aim of the IYAC forum is to devise a global online charter to present to the United Nations and the World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in Brazil this November.

Media Man Australia

Technology News

Media man a crime buster, by Kelly Ryan - Herald Sun - 9th June 2008

2008-07-02T19:41:00.001+10:00

Putting the finger on crime for more than 20 years has won Herald Sun journalist Geoff Wilkinson a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

The senior investigative reporter has been recognised for his services to crime prevention, particularly through the establishment of the Crime Stoppers program.

The program began in Victoria in 1987 - when Wilkinson was media director for Victoria Police - and was later adopted by all Australian states and territories.

Nationally, calls have led to more than 45,000 arrests, 125,000 charges and the recovery of drugs and stolen property worth over $900 million.

Wilkinson said that his award was "recognition and acknowledgment of the efforts of a lot of people over a long period.

"Crime Stoppers is a simple concept, but it needed the support of police, media and the community to make it work as well as it has," he said.

Wilkinson has bagged many prestige journalism awards, including the Victoria Law Foundation's Reporter of the Year in 2002 and 2007 and News Limited's Specialist Writer of the Year in 2006, as well as three Melbourne Press Club Quill Awards.

But Wilkinson said Crime Stoppers was his most important achievement.

Media Man Australia Updated

2008-06-15T14:29:00.002+10:00

Media Man Australia Profiles

News

Man stabbed in queue for Grand Theft Auto IV, by Hannah Fletcher - Times Online - 30th April 2008

2008-04-30T20:28:00.002+10:00

A hooded man queuing to buy the new Grand Theft Auto IV, the notoriously violent computer game, stabbed a passer-by in the head and neck. Up to 100 people witnessed the attack.

Like dozens of video-game sellers across the country, Gamestation in Croydon, South London, opened at midnight yesterday for the launch of the game.

Onlookers thought initially that the stabbing was part of a stunt by the store to whip up excitement about the release of the 18-certificate title.

The victim is thought to have struggled home to fetch his own knife for a revenge attack but collapsed in the street and was taken to hospital.

Malcolm Critchell, who was at the shop with his nephew, Jordan, said: “While waiting outside the store, a man stood next to us and was covered from shoulder to belly in blood. Myself and others thought it was a show to promote the game but when we looked closer, he had been knifed repeatedly. It was unbelieveable – there was blood everywhere, all down the street. It was like something out of a nightmare. We were told he had been rude to some bloke [for] which he was knifed. He then went home, grabbed a kitchen knife and went looking for this person.”

The 23-year-old victim was walking past the queue at about 11pm when he was attacked. Witnesses said that he sustained stab wounds to his head and back. He was treated in hospital and later discharged.

Marcus Henderson, 24, who was in the queue, said: “It was a scene straight from the game itself. In Grand Theft Auto, when you attack someone but don’t finish them off they’ll come and get you.”

The Metropolitan Police said that the man involved in Monday’s stabbing “appeared to be in a queue of people who were waiting for [Gamesta-tion] to open for a special event”.

Keith Vaz, the Labour MP for Leices-ter East and a long-time campaigner against video games, told The Times: “[ Grand Theft Auto] is a violent and nasty video game and it doesn’t surprise me that some of those who play it behave in this way.”

More than half a million copies of Grand Theft Auto IV are expected to be sold in Britain in the next week, while more than six million copies will be sold worldwide, raking in more than £200 million.

Critics of the game, in which players can roam freely around a digital landscape murdering, pillaging and stealing, have long argued that it is a dangerous influence.

Since Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software, released the first Grand Theft Auto game in 1997, they have faced a series of lawsuits from the families of murder victims, claiming that the game inspired the killers.

Elsewhere, an 18-year-old from Ley-land, Lancashire, was reported to have suffered a broken jaw after being mugged by two older men. Lancashire police said that the motive for the attack was the victim’s new copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, which he had bought from his local Blockbuster store minutes earlier.

The bad publicity appeared to have little effect on sales. Play.com was taking up to 80 orders a minute and had to take on 90 extra staff to cope. Woolworths reported selling 200 copies a minute and said that it would be sold out by the end of the day.

Grand Theft Auto's anti-hero steals the show, by Asher Moses - The Sydney Morning Herald - 30th April 2008

2008-04-30T20:13:00.002+10:00

He's the biggest name in entertainment but you won't find him striding down the red carpet or cavorting with Hollywood starlets under the watchful eye of the paparazzi.

No, Niko Bellic, set to become the most high profile Slav in entertainment since Borat Sagdiyev took the box office by storm 18 months ago.

He is among the new breed of entertainment personalities who, rather than being cast, are built from scratch by a team of programmers and graphic designers.

He's the protagonist in Grand Theft Auto IV and, just days after hitting the streets, is already giving flesh-and-blood Hollywood stars a run for their money.

Launched around the world at midnight on Monday, Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is on track to become the biggest entertainment launch in history. Analysts have predicted the title, which has inspired near-perfect reviews from most gaming magazines, will sell at least 6 million copies in its first week.

And if the $US400 million ($428 million) first week sales estimates prove correct, GTA IV will earn as much as Pirates Of The Caribbean III earned in its opening weekend in May last year to become Hollywood's record holder.

It would also eclipse Spider-Man 3 and the previous video game king, Halo 3, which raked in $US300 million in its first week in September last year.

Steve Wilson, CEO of EBGames, which held midnight launch events around Australia for GTA IV, said the launch was "almost twice as big as Halo 3".

"It was very, very big, much bigger than we were expecting even, and we were expecting big - particularly for a Tuesday," he said.

The game's developer, Rockstar Games, and EBGames both refused to release first-day sales figures or the number of copies sold.

Bellic is expected to join a growing list of game stars - Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series and Master Chief from Halo, to name a few - that have become household names among anyone with even a passing interest in videos games.

Unlike the two-dimensional characters in movies, today's games allow players to become the character and completely immerse themselves in their world. And thanks to the power of the latest generation of games consoles, those worlds have become a lot richer, with virtually no limitations on where a player can travel, hundreds of characters to interact with and hundreds of thousands of lines of dialogue.

Bellic inhabits Liberty City, modelled on present-day New York, and has recently arrived in the US from Eastern Europe in search of the American Dream. But instead of the riches promised by his cousin Ramon, the anti-hero quickly becomes wrapped up in crime and warring rival syndicates as he helps Roman clear his hefty debt.

"We wanted someone who felt tough but also like an alien ... On the one hand he's an innocent, on the other hand he's battle hardened and world weary. A modern 'arriving in America' story felt very interesting to us," Rockstar co-founder and creative vice-president Dan Houser told Hollywood industry magazine Variety.

As players guide Bellic through the city's seedy criminal underbelly they can use breaks between missions to visit prostitutes and invite friends out for a drink, a round of pool or a game of darts. Bellic's phone can be used to dial up ambulances if he or friends become injured and players can even use the phone to buy and download tracks heard on the game's radio stations.

GTA IV is the ninth game in the Grand Theft Auto series, which has sold more than 70 million copies since its launch in 1997 and holds three of the top four spots on the list of best-selling games of all time. Unlike a typical movie, GTA IV takes 40 hours or more to get through and can be extended via the online multiplayer mode, making its $120 price tag somewhat easier to digest.

Variety reported that GTA IV's success could detract from film box office takings over the next few months as young males shy away from the cinema in favour of the couch. As far as heroes go, Bellic will be up against Indiana Jones and Batman when their latest outings debut in cinemas this year.

Rockstar is hoping GTA IV will be recognised alongside the great standout gangster movies, saying there hadn't been one over the past few years.

Metacritic, which aggregates reviews from all publications, lists 15 reviews for the PS3 version of GTA IV and 25 reviews for the Xbox 360 version. The average scores are 100 and 99 respectively.

"Grand Theft Auto IV is a violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun," read a review in The New York Times.

The game, which rewards players for mass killing, carjacking and gambling and also includes drink driving and simulated sex with prostitutes, has raised the ire of family lobby groups, who say it could influence the real-life behaviour of young players.

In Australia, because there is no R18+ rating for video games, Rockstar Games was forced to tone down some of the more extreme content before it could be sold here under the MA15+ rating.

"While there are some minor differences between the Australian and US/EU versions, they are not significant and we do not believe they take away from the level of scope and detail that make GTA IV such an incredible experience," Rockstar said in a statement.

Game reviewers at IGN were one of the first in Australia to play through the local version of the title and confirmed the censorship changes were minor.

Murderous rampages, picking up prostitutes, visiting strip clubs for private lap dances and drink driving are all present in the Australian release but the act of having sex with hookers in one's car has been toned down.

"While you can spin the camera 360 degrees around the car and see Niko and the hooker bumping and grinding in the US version, during the act of sex the camera remains locked at the rear of the car, focusing on the bumping car itself and the sound effects in the Aussie version," IGN said.

But in a reminder of how meaningless local censorship rulings have become in the internet age, the uncensored Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto IV for both PAL and NTSC regions were leaked to various BitTorrent file sharing websites days before the midnight launch.

Underbelly to go global - The Sydney Morning Herald - 8th April 2008

2008-04-09T08:26:00.000+10:00

Controversial Melbourne gangland drama Underbelly will be seen by audiences around the world in Europe, Asia and Africa after the Nine Network signed an international distribution deal.

Nine today announced it had signed a deal with Fox International Channels and British-based distributor Portman Film & Television to broadcast the 13-episode series.

Underbelly will be screened across most Fox International Channel feeds, including Britain, Italy, the Balkans, Korea, Pan-Asia, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and Turkey.

Nine's chief executive David Gyngell said the deal was testament to the production quality of Underbelly.

"To say we are pleased is an understatement - we are delighted that the series will gain international audiences and global recognition."

Underbelly focuses on the story behind Melbourne's infamous gangland killings - a 10-year war between rival factions of the city's criminal underworld.

The program has not been shown in Victoria because of a court order suppressing its broadcast in that state.

Nine's head of drama, Jo Horsburgh said the series had been a "terrific creative challenge".

"We are hugely proud of this outcome," Horsburgh said.

The show's premiere was the most successful Australian drama launch in Sydney and nationally in the 25-54 year old demographic since the OzTam ratings system was introduced.

It was also the No.1 program on its premiere night for all people in all the markets in which it aired - Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

AAP

Media Man Australia Profiles

Underbelly

Network Nine Australia

Paris Hilton goes to jail

2007-05-08T13:24:00.000+10:00

Profiles

Paris Hilton

Article

Why there's gold in them thar cells - The Age

PARIS HILTON will earn yet another fortune selling diaries and images of her life behind bars, according to leading publicists.

"She will probably make more money from it than Jeffrey Archer," said marketing guru Max Markson. "But she is very silly. She was warned. She was on a suspended sentence. She deserves to get 45 days."

Hilton's sentence for drunk driving is unlikely to adversely affect sales of Bondi Blonde, the beer she was hired to promote by its maker's part-owner, John Singleton, during a five-day visit to Sydney in January.

But she could use her marketing genius and jail sentence for a good cause, according to Greg Tingle, chief executive of Mediaman. "The opportunity certainly exists for Paris to turn this to a positive because of her strong social influence on youth globally," Tingle said.

"Paris and her close advisers should carefully consider what tactic to take with this. It's a golden opportunity to emphasise the dangers of alcohol abuse."

Since her first media appearance at the opening of a Las Vegas casino in 1999, Hilton has out ditzied Marilyn, built a business like Madonna and will soon have the ex-con marketability of Martha Stewart.

She has been so successful at turning a negative to a positive that she has created a new category of celebrity; the sleazebrity.

Who else could turn a humiliating sex video released by a toady former boyfriend into a global launch pad?

Who but Paris could profit from one million American parents signing a petition to ban a TV advertisement in which she slid across a soapy Bentley to eat a hamburger?

In his ebook Paris Hilton is a Fool, author W. Frederick Zimmerman writes that while the socialite/model/TV star is a fool, she is nobody's idiot. "The evidence seems to support the argument that, although she is no intellectual, she is a pretty shrewd businesswoman," Zimmerman writes.

"She is a risk taker who avoided the easy path of relying on a family fortune and struck out on her own to create an innovative personal career."

But life behind bars will be anything but the simple life for the multi-millionaire hotel heiress.

ABC 'Difference Of Opinion' - Growing Up In The Digital Age - 23rd April 2007

2007-04-24T22:03:00.000+10:00

Media Man Australia director, Greg Tingle, publicly discusses his stalker, defamation, outlandish allegations, and the good, the bad and the ugly of the internet on national television via ABC 'Difference Of Opinion'.

Profiles

Stalkers

Technology News

ABC

For more information contact:

Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
m: 0424 223 674
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
a: PO Box 4055 Maroubra South NSW 2035

Member: National Press Club, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Maroubra Chamber of Commerce...

Cyber Squatter - Crime

2007-04-13T21:24:00.000+10:00

The cyber squatter and cyber stalker and stalker of Media Man Australia, has now started to again receive legal letters from others, who she is also breaking laws against.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au

Media Man Australia Website Updated

2007-04-07T11:19:00.000+10:00

The Media Man Australia website has been updated, including:

The Underworld
Stalker Directory

Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia

Cyber Crime, Cyber Stalking, Cyber Squatting News

2007-03-25T22:53:00.000+10:00

Cyber Crime, Cyber Stalking, Cyber Squatting News

Media Man Australia director, Greg Tingle (myself) recently spoke at the National Speakers Association of Australia on the media and publicity business. Also covered was cyber crime, cyber stalking and cyber squatting, which Media Man Australia has experienced. Some readers will be familiar with the Virgin Star stalker situation as covered in the media including with B&T who published 'Publicist attacked poison pen'.

Media Man Australia has received numerous correspondence regarding what is known as the Virgin Star Stalker aka Women from Maas.

Media Man Australia has published a poem about the stalker.

Authorities have been tipped off regarding the Virgin Star Stalker.

Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia

ABC 4 Corners

2007-03-08T12:50:00.000+11:00

ABC 4 Corners recently did an excellent report on "rehabilitation" in the Australian jails.
This was of particular interest to myself and my good friend and associate, Mick "The Cutta" Cutajar. Mick and I agree that much needs to be done to improve the situation, as done much of our inner circle.

ABC 4 Corners official website
Mick Cutajar official website
Mick Cutajar profile

It was also awesome to hear of Sir Richard Branson, head of Virgin Enterprises Limited, visiting an Australian jail on his recent trip to Sydney, Australia.

Thank God for the ABC.

Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia

Crime Media

2007-02-22T22:58:00.000+11:00

Journalist and publicist, Greg Tingle, has tipped on Network Nine ACA, 60 Minutes, Seven's TT and ABC 4 Corners on various persons of interest.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au

Media Man Australia - Stalker situation update

2005-12-18T16:47:00.000+11:00

Media Man Australia - Stalker situation update

Folks, I was just notified that my stalker (many of you can guess who it is) visited my residence yesterday (Saturday 17th December 2005). I also visited Randwick Police Station again today.

The recent press attention includes the following...

'Publicist attacked by poison pen'

Following a spate of email-related scandals this year, Sydney publicist Greg Tingle is the latest person to fall victim to a malicious email that has been circulated around the globe...

Additional information:

A number of Media Man Australia clients, contacts and associates have been contacted by the stalker (a former very short time client). by both e-mail and telephone! At least one contact is also prepared to put an AVO on the stalker, and approx 99% of the people who received the hoax e-mail from greg.tingle@gmail.com know it was a hoax / criminal related act, and that I was certainly not the author of such rubbish. Furthermore, the fact that people were contacted by not only e-mail, but also telephone, builds the legal argument that my Google g-mail e-mail was used without permission, as the persecutor had to get the phone numbers of my clients and contacts from someone, and not all of their details were / are in the public domain.

I would like to say a big thank you to my friends and clients at this challenging time.

Some of my friends are looking after me in a big, big way, and I am most grateful.

Stay tuned to the developing situation.

Best Regards & Season's Greetings
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
a: PO Box 4055 Maroubra South NSW 2035

Member: National Press Club, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Maroubra Chamber of Commerce...

Media Updates

2005-11-26T11:23:00.000+11:00

For More information

Media Man Australia

Media Man Australia - Profile - The Legal System

2005-08-08T10:02:00.000+10:00

Media Man Australia - Profile - The Legal System

Article - I am Osama: court told of terror threats (Sydney Morning Herald)

2005-08-08T09:57:00.000+10:00

A reality TV show producer claimed he was Osama bin Laden and warned of follow up terror attacks on Australians, a court heard today.

Charles Gant, 42, of the Gold Coast, was accused of making phone calls to the Australian High Commission in Singapore six days after the Jakarta embassy bombing.

He was also accused of making "disturbing" calls to several media companies, claiming to be from al-Qaeda and threatening to kill Australians, a Gold Coast court was told today.

Egyptian-born Gant was arrested at 8pm (AEST) yesterday in his Labrador apartment by members of the Brisbane-based joint counter terrorism team of the Australian Federal Police.

The self-proclaimed creator and star of a proposed reality television show dating game called Fantasy Island arrived at the Southport Magistrates Court in handcuffs wearing a blue polo shirt and jeans.

He faced six charges under the Commonwealth Crime Act with intentionally using a carriage service to menace or harass.

Crown prosecutor Anthony Gett said while the charges carried a maximum 12 month prison term, in the present climate the allegations were disturbing to the public interest.

Mr Gett said the calls were made from South Australia using seven different sim cards, but Australian Federal Police could link the calls to a unique serial number in Gant's mobile phone.

Media Monitors received the first of four calls made on September 12.

"The God of Islam, I am al-Qaeda," the caller said.

"You Westerners know what you've done and you will pay for your sins.

"The attack in Jakarta is just the first, more will follow in Singapore and Malaysia."

Similar calls were made to the offices of Sky News, the Age newspaper and Fairfax Newspapers.

"Listen to me you are all Australian pigs and you will die," Gant allegedly told a telephone receptionist at Fairfax Newspapers.

"In the name of Allah see what happens in Singapore."

Mr Gett said two calls were made on September 15 to the Australian High Commission in Singapore.

In one call Gant allegedly identified himself as Osama bin Laden and warned that Australian offices in Singapore and Malaysia were targets.

"The bomb that happened in Jakarta is going to happen in Malaysia and Singapore, he said.

"I called to warn you of more attacks on Australian consulates in Malaysia and Singapore."

Gant's lawyer Jason Buckland said the charges were based on circumstantial evidence and would be vigorously defended.

He said Gant had publicity commitments for his television show and his profile made him unlikely to be able to hide.

"I am very confident this defendant is going to be watched like a hawk by the commonwealth law enforcement agencies," he added.

Bail was denied and Gant was remanded in custody to appear during Commonwealth Court sittings in Brisbane on October 8.

Outside court Gant's elderly mother, Marie Dubois, pleaded her son's innocence.

"He's a good boy, he's never done anything wrong, he's not terrorist," she said.

Article - I'm in love with the postcard bandit

2005-08-08T09:56:00.000+10:00

True life

Credit: Woman's Day (ACP)

The people behind the stories that make news

Check out our compelling new True Life section beginning this week in Woman's Day. It's packed full of fascinating real-life reads about people who've experienced amazing things - some happy, some bizarre, some shocking but all entertaining.

I'm in love with the postcard bandit

Like many women in long-distance relationships, Tilly Needham travels thousands of kilometres each month to visit the man she loves. But this is no ordinary affair. Tilly's boyfriend is the infamous 'Postcard Bandit' and he'll be in prison until 2018. Here, Tilly talks about her love for a bank robber ...

Tilly Needham proves that love knows no boundaries. The 51-year-old daughter of a decorated policeman and former de facto of a senior Brisbane detective has found her soul mate in the most unlikely place of all - a prison.

Tilly, a mother of six, has lost her heart to one of Australia's most infamous criminals, armed robber Brenden Abbott, better known as the "Postcard Bandit".

For the past six years Tilly, who lives in Darwin, has travelled to Brisbane once a month to visit 43-year-old Abbott, who's spent most of the years since his 1998 recapture in solitary confinement.

Although Tilly won't reveal how or when she first met the fugitive Abbott, she admits to being instantly attracted to him, not by his looks alone, but by his "integrity, morals and standards".

"I'm not talking about the criminal element. I'm talking about him, the human being," says Tilly, who describes herself as loyal and non-judgmental. "Brenden's given me more than any man has given me in my life.

"As well as having a warm personality and good sense of humour, he's understanding, compassionate, respectful, trustful and caring ... he completes me as a woman.

"I know a lot of people will find that hard to accept, but they don't know the real Brenden.

"My late dad, Eric, would not have approved of his criminal side, but man to man, they would have got on like a house on fire," she adds.

Tilly admits the man she calls "hon" has no sugar-coated background. His earliest possible parole date from prison is 2018.

Seen by some as a latter-day Ned Kelly, Abbott's exploits were highlighted in an Australian movie called The Postcard Bandit, starring Tom Long, shown on TV last year.

Abbott, who netted millions of dollars in numerous bank raids, earned his nickname for supposedly sending taunting postcards to police while he was on the run - but Australia's most wanted man for eight years claims he never sent a single card.

Because of their infrequent visits, Tilly - who lived with a policeman for more than 15 years and has three children by him - says she tries to make their time together count.

"I can't understand it when I'm visiting Brenden and I see other inmates and their partners arguing or fighting, instead of embracing each other. The little time they have together should be real quality time - that's what Brenden and I try to achieve.

"That's when I just wish I could pack him up and take him home. I have a little tear when my flight leaves. We still have our numerous phone calls in between, which is far better than nothing at all," says articulate and well-spoken Tilly, who runs a beauty salon.

Story: Warren Gibbs

For more on this story and other amazing true life stories, see this week's issue of Woman's Day:
Miracle mum - 'I had triplets after losing three babies.'
Schapelle Corby's birthday joy - 'Thank you all for thinking of me.'

Got a story? Contact Rachel Morris on (02) 9282 8539 or e-mail ramorris@acp.com.au

Resources

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Australian Federal Police

Australian High Tech Crime Centre

NSW Police

Interpol

Article - Profile - Big Tim Bristow

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Time spent with a loveable rogue

By Greg Tingle
Australia’s legendary private investigator, Tim “earthquake” Bristow, was one of Australia’s most colourful, and some may say, notorious underworld figures until his death earlier this year. He was also my friend and some time mentor.

Bristow was synonymous with Australia’s northern beaches community. He seemed to have contacts in almost every street from Palm Beach to Manly and beyond.

Our introduction came about via my late father in the mid-1980s when he and Bristow worked together as debt collectors. I helped out on the odd job as well, but my services were mainly in his trucking and property business.

Time with Bristow was precious, whether we were enjoying a bite at “Lucky and Pep’s Pizza” or having a punt at the Newport TAB, which had been the most successful book-making business of its kind under my grandfather's previous management.

Bristow wore many hats over his lifetime, including those of: private investigator (specialising in divorce cases); “problem solver” for industry disputes; a bouncer; and a competitive sportsman in diving, surfing and rugby.

Betting on the horses or collecting press clippings and videos of broadcasts he featured in were hobbies that continued well into later life.

In his younger years, he was a model and secured major sponsorship from Coca Cola: a real-life “chesty Bond.” He was a man’s man and a ladies’ man.

A spell in the New South Wales Police Service didn’t last long due to his unwillingness to bow to authority. His self-managed style did not bode well in an atmosphere of strict discipline.

In 1976, Bristow was convicted of assault and sentenced to 18 months in prison. A decade later he was sentenced to five years in prison for supplying Indian hemp. He was no angel, and this was touched upon by his brother during his eulogy.

Bristow struck fear into low-lifes in Australia. "I bribed police for 40 years. I found that the higher I went in society the lower the morals became," he was once quoted as saying.

He was both a very public and private personality. His funeral took place at St Thomas’ Church, North Sydney in February; his wake at Chatswood – both of which were public affairs.

He went to great lengths to keep his name out of the papers if he knew they intended to publish something detrimental about him. It is ironic one of his closest friends - the journalist and writer - Kevin Perkins, is now penning his biography: warts and all.

He had a love-hate relationship with the media and their interest in his exploits in the sometimes “seedy” construction industry.

Twice in the weeks before his death, I went to his beautiful Newport home to chat, drink and watch old video tapes of his TV interviews.

I mentioned a book I had read recently: “Not for Publication” by Chris Masters and a chapter of particular interest to me, entitled: “Guilty Buildings.”

I knew Bristow was the chapter's inferred subject but nonetheless I had to ask while I still had the opportunity.

Bristow jovially confessed.

Literally every media and crime figure personality I alluded to, he seemed to have a suitable anecdote for.

His criminal record and "enforcer" reputation led a royal commission to investigate the construction industry underworld in the early 1990s after he told 60 Minutes he had been employed by big building firms as an "industrial relations consultant."

From my time spent working for him, I can confirm he visited many building sites around Sydney, sometimes accompanied by an extra passenger or two in case more persuasion was called for.

Rumours of unco-operative men “falling to their deaths” on building sites abounded at one time and his home tennis court is rumoured to have foundations of more than just rubble.

During the royal commission investigation into productivity in the New South Wales building industry, Bristow said he suggested people on building sites that continued to disrupt work might meet with a “bad accident.”

However, listening to Bristow’s tales, one got the feeling he was adding at least a little colour for entertainment value.

Australian radio broadcasting kingpin, Alan Jones, will remember that in 1974, when he was a coach for King's first XV, Bristow turned up to provide pointers to his lads on the finer aspects of playing rugby.

A member of the team recounts how Bristow advised them on how to dislocate a shoulder; how to re-align the jawbone of an opposing player with the merest nudge, and how a simple twist could snap a finger.

"It was all very subtle but the end result was very messy," the player recalled.

At the end of Bristow's on-air chat with an ashen-faced Alan Jones, no-doubt recoiling in his studio chair some years later, the broadcaster waited for the “enforcer” to be safely ensconced in his Mercedes convertible outside, before answering to his charges by telling his audience: "Just forget everything you've heard this afternoon."

Rumour has it if you got on the bad side of Bristow, you secured a one way ticket to the “see-you-later-club” - located off the heads of Palm Beach – with concrete blocks for boots.

I took the trip with him a few times, and needless to say I lived to tell the tale. The trip was quite a pleasant experience. However, I admit when I was sitting on the bow of his speedboat at a speed approaching 50 knots once, I felt somewhat tentative.

Although he circulated in a somewhat dubious world, Bristow was in no way a dubious or “dodgy” character. He had all the characteristics of a good person – he had morals, was loyal, truthful and giving of heart.

Still, no one is pretending one of Australia’s most misunderstood, legendary and public figures was always an easy man to get on with.

Tim “earthquake” Bristow's life story by Kevin Perkins is due to be released in October.

Welcome to Crime Media

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Crime Media brings to you crime news.

Another initiative from Media Man Australia.

Stay tuned for news from the underworld, crime stories and news, and the like, that you won't get anywhere else.