MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – A former Australian Football League (AFL) umpire, Troy Pannell, has been sentenced to 11 weeks in prison for contempt of court after breaching an asset freeze order and disobeying court directives to disclose his assets.
Pannell, who officiated in over 200 AFL games, was found guilty of four counts of contempt of court by Justice Andrew Watson in May.
The charges were brought by his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, as part of a fraud investigation.
The court ordered Pannell’s assets to be frozen in connection with the probe, which involves alleged payments he made while employed by SeaRoad Shipping.
However, Pannell failed to comply with the order, disposing of assets and failing to provide accurate affidavits outlining his worth.
In addition to breaching the asset-freeze order, Pannell admitted to selling a filly born from a racehorse he owned and giving a friend $10,000 in cash, further violating the court’s directives.
Justice Watson condemned Pannell’s actions, stating that his “disobedience was contumacious” and demonstrated a deliberate disregard for the court’s authority.
Pannell will serve his sentences concurrently and has already spent 54 days on remand.
His case has drawn attention in the AFL community, where he was known for his controversial officiating in several high-profile matches.