A Sydney developer has lost his appeal against a conviction for sexually abusing his stepdaughter and has been taken into custody.
There were dramatic scenes in the Court of Criminal Appeal on Thursday, where the three-judge panel dismissed Peter Versi's appeal against his conviction and sentence and ordered that he be taken into custody.
Versi hugged and kissed his tearful wife, telling her "There's no justice", before he was led away.
Versi was jailed for at least 18 months in March last year after he was found guilty by a District Court jury of one count of indecency and one act of sexual intercourse without consent with the girl in the mid-1980s.
The 64-year-old appealed against his sentence and conviction and was granted bail in August last year, pending the outcome of the appeal.
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The court heard he had a "strong likelihood of success" and, if were denied bail, would have served up to 80 per cent of his sentence by the time the appeal was heard.
He argued there were a number of miscarriages of justice, including the inclusion of "confusing and inappropriate" evidence at trial.
However, the appeal judges disagreed and ordered that Versi resume his jail sentence immediately.
Taking into account time already served, he will be eligible for parole in December next year.
After Versi was led away, his victim hugged her supporters outside court.
The case caused outrage last year after Versi's name was suppressed on the grounds that it would be "catastrophic" to his business and reputation.
Melbourne broadcaster Derryn Hinch outed him on his radio program and the Crown eventually succeeded in having the suppression order lifted.
The court heard Versi's victim consented to him being named, even though it might identify her to some people.
