Alleged fraudster Gore told to stop delays

Former property developer and rich-lister Craig Gore has been told to stop changing lawyers and delaying his court matters.

Gore

Craig Gore (right) has been told to stop switching lawyers, delaying the fraud case against him. (AAP)

A former rich lister accused of swindling almost $800,000 has been told he can't keep switching lawyers and delaying his court matters.

Craig Gore was expected to apply for legal aid at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday but instead sought an adjournment, having recently retained high profile solicitor Terry Fisher.

Mr Fisher said he needed six weeks to examine the 7000-page brief against Gore, who has been charged with 12 counts of fraud and three counts of making decisions that affect a business while disqualified from managing corporations.

The charges stem from allegations the 50-year-old defrauded superannuation companies of $795,000 between 2013 and 2014, for the benefit of Arion Financial.

He is also accused of participating in or making decisions for three separate companies between 2010 and 2014, including Arion, while disqualified from managing corporations.

Initially, Mr Gore had engaged another high profile solicitor, Terry O'Gorman. Then his matter was adjourned so he could consider legal aid and he has now privately instructed Mr Fisher.

"He can't endlessly swap solicitors and then expect us to endlessly keep delaying," magistrate Judith Daley said.

"We would like some movement, either to set it down for hearing or moving toward a plea because it has been on our book since April."

And if Gore switches legal teams again he won't be able to postpone his matter, the court heard.

"I can assure you there will be no excuse," Ms Daley warned.

"We'll just set it down for hearing and he can represent himself."

The twice-bankrupt developer was permanently banned from the financial services industry in 2015 by the Federal Court.

An Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigation found Gore and others enticed about 400 people to use their superannuation to invest in schemes in the United States and British Virgin Islands.

About $1.7 million was swindled from investors' savings, Federal Court judge Richard White said ASIC found.

Gore, a former motor racing identity, is the son of Mike Gore, who developed Gold Coast resort Sanctuary Cove in 1988.

He left Australia owing $25 million in 1992 and died in Canada of a heart attack two years later.

Gore is due to return to court on September 29.


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Source: AAP



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