FORMER Peppermint Grove councillor and chartered accountant Scott Francis Fleay’s lawyer indicated today that his client planned to plead not guilty to the alleged theft of $4.7 million.
Simon Freitage told Perth Magistrates Court this morning that Mr Fleay intended to plead not guilty to stealing the money from one of his accounting clients.
Mr Fleay allegedly took money 19 times from a client’s account between 2007 and 2010, in crimes not related to his nine years on the council.
He resigned from council on August 14 after he was charged by police with stealing while holding a power of attorney and stealing as a director of a company.
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READ NOWThis morning, Mr Fleay sat quietly in a open-necked shirt and suit, but had to be told by a court security officer not to use his mobile telephone at the end of the hearing.
Mr Freitag said all the charges should be heard at a later date because some involved amounts over $1million, while others required applications to be heard together.
Magistrate Brionie Ayling counted seven charges that may need applications, before setting another committal hearing at the court on November 26.