Australian accountant stole $2m from musicians, restaurateurs

Damien Luscombe was trusted by a few of Australia’s most well-known musicians and restaurateurs to supervise their day-to-day accounts and funds.

However for 11 years, Luscombe abused that belief by transferring greater than $2 million ($2.14m NZD) that ought to have gone into their financial institution accounts into his personal.

The previous companion and enterprise supervisor at White Sky accounting agency admitted his crimes on Friday, dealing with the Victorian County Court docket to plead responsible to 12 prices.

Between September 2011 and September 2022, Luscombe made not less than 337 false paperwork to facilitate 239 fraudulent transactions.

He would both physician reputable invoices or create faux ones with the billing financial institution particulars modified to his private Commonwealth Checking account.

Luscombe additionally created false emails purporting to be from shoppers or their managers requesting funds, once more utilizing his private checking account data.

His senior position meant solely his signature was required to authorise the paperwork.

In complete, Luscombe took $2,166,036.29 ($2,324,969.20 NZD) over the 11-year interval.

His victims included performers Gotye, Angus and Julia Stone, and Peking Duk, in addition to the homeowners of Melbourne eating places Mr Miyagi and The Meatball and Wine Bar.

‘Deeply embarrassed and ashamed’

When one among his workers seen a suspicious fee in or round October 2022, Luscombe advised the employee, “I sorted it mate, I am going to fill you in later”.

However as different suspicious transactions appeared, the employee made a report back to White Sky’s managing director.

Throughout a gathering with the corporate and attorneys on October 14, 2022, Luscombe admitted his crimes and detailed how he undertook the offending.

He made comparable concessions when he was arrested and charged by police in March 2023.

Luscombe learn a letter to officers, telling them the hundreds of thousands he stole funded his playing dependancy and he was “deeply embarrassed and ashamed”.

His barrister Christopher Carr echoed these strains on Friday, telling the court docket Luscombe was remorseful for his crimes and the influence it had on the victims.

‘Robbed blind’

The court docket was advised a few of the affected restaurateurs needed to promote their companies and houses to make ends meet whereas Luscombe pocketed hundreds of thousands.

Peking Duk’s Adam Hyde and Reuben Kinds spoke in regards to the feeling of being “robbed blind” whereas already struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I really feel utterly misplaced and betrayed,” Hyde stated in a press release learn to the court docket.

Wally De Backer, who goes by the stage identify Gotye, stated Luscombe had precipitated him quite a lot of private stress.

“All that stated, I forgive Damien and I hope he can discover extra fascinating and productive issues to do sooner or later,” De Backer’s assertion learn.

Carr advised the court docket Luscombe had to date paid about $44,000 ($47,228.50) in restitution and he would comply with any compensation orders made sooner or later.

The 38-year-old had not gambled since October 2022 and was nonetheless present process therapy for his dependancy, together with common periods with a psychologist.

Carr conceded a jail time period was the one acceptable sentence however he stated Luscombe had genuinely good prospects of rehabilitation as soon as launched.

Luscombe was addressing his dependancy, had discovered new employment as a warehouse assistant and he was supported by his household and mates, Carr stated.

Prosecutor Edwina Dane famous Luscombe had dedicated comparable offending in 2010, to which he was given an excellent behaviour bond with out conviction.

He began employment at White Sky 15 days after that 2010 court docket look so Choose George Georgiou ought to prioritise particular deterrence and denunciation in sentencing, Dane stated.

Choose Georgiou adjourned sentence to March 27 however remanded Luscombe in custody, noting a jail time period was the one choice.