Robert Wayne Collins appeared in Berri Magistrates Court on Wednesday, via video link from Berri Police Station, and did not apply for bail.
Detectives from South Australia’s Serious and Organised Financial Crime Investigation Section conducted an investigation and subsequently arrested the 81-year-old Hackham man.
He was charged on Wednesday with 10 counts of aggravated theft and one count of aggravated dishonest dealing with documents.
Police will allege that between August 2015 and March 2022, the man was acting in a position of trust when he was paid by several victims over $913,000.
These paid funds were to be managed via SMSF and international investment opportunities, along with obtaining a loan for one of the victims. Police identified that the victim’s funds were used by the man for his personal use.
Mr Collins will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in September next year.
Serial offender. From his last criminal case ” Judge Liesl Chapman sentenced him to six years’ jail with a minimum four-year non-parole period, stating he had “no prospects of rehabilitation”.
“There is not a drop of confidence that you will depart from this type of dishonest activity ever,” Judge Chapman said.
His victims felt four years’ prison was nowhere near enough for their suffering, but it turns out Collins didn’t even serve that, with South Australia’s Department for Correctional Services releasing him on home detention after just 18 months.”