A former diamond dealer to the stars has escaped with a fine for defrauding creditors. But only after moving to Israel.
A formerly bankrupt jeweller to the stars has escaped with a fine for defrauding creditors with a court hearing he had started a new life in Israel.
There were curious scenes inside Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday as Ron Bensimon appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to a string of charges related to disclosures made to trustees and the transfer of money to his then wife.
Bensimon, 44, watched proceedings via audiovisual link from Israel – where he was now living – and was represented in court by his high-profile legal team of Ertunc Ozen SC and Mahmoud Abbas.
In February last year he was charged with six offences related to his bankruptcy.
He was set to go to trial, but negotiated a deal with prosecutors which saw him plead guilty to charges of making a declaration known to be false and concealing/removing property following presentation of a petition.
He was declared bankrupt in 2016 when his diamond business collapsed with debts of $6.9 million.
In 2021, he was discharged from his bankruptcy.
Late last year he moved to Israel and he had routinely receiving threats from customers and aggrieved creditors, the court heard.
Read the article by Steve Zemek in The Daily Telegraph.