12-250MR Insurance broker charged with theft
Thursday 11 October 2012
An insurance broker appeared in court today charged with stealing more than $675,000 of clients’ money over a seven month period.
Bruce Wickett of Carnegie, Victoria, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court charged with three counts of theft totalling $675,120.78 between August 2010 and March 2011.
It is alleged Mr Wickett stole the money, which represented insurance premiums being held on behalf of 228 clients.
This money was to be forwarded to various insurance companies representing insurance premiums due to those insurers, for insurance cover they had provided to those clients of Mr Wickett.
At the time of the offences Mr Wickett was the sole director of Wickett Investments Pty Ltd and Wickett Insurance Broking Pty Ltd through which he operated his insurance broking business.
Mr Wickett was not required to enter a plea.
Mr Wickett is to appear again in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 20 December 2012.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is prosecuting the matter.
Background
The charges under Section 74 of the Victorian Crimes Act carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for each offence.
Editor's note:
Mr Wickett will next appear again in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday 1 February 2013, for a committal mention.
ASIC Website: Printed 05/19/2013
