Bankrupt gets suspended prison sentence after undeclared Lismore property sale

Quentin Van der Hecht of Lismore has been sentenced after pleading guilty to an offence of disposing money with an intent to defraud his creditors.

Mr Van der Hecht filed for voluntary bankruptcy in July 2011.

In June 2011, Mr Van der Hecht received over $200,000 from the sale of his property.

Mr Van der Hecht directed his solicitor to pay the surplus funds from the sale to his estranged wife to keep the funds out of reach of his creditors. 

The Court recently found the offence proven and convicted Mr Van der Hecht.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment that was suspended upon him entering into a $2000 good behaviour bond for two years.

The Magistrate noted the importance of the bankruptcy system and the need to prevent bankrupts from exploiting the system.

The matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution on behalf of the Australian Financial Security Authority.