The New Zealand lawyers of a fugitive cult leader are begging the Adelaide District Court to unfreeze his assets so they can get paid.
In 2010 pastor Rocco Leo faced multiple claims brought by members of his congregation. Leo had told them the government planned to inject them with tiny microchips which would kill them with poison gas, and that if they refused they would be beheaded. Faced with this catch-22, they each paid him up to $1.2 million for safe passage to a secret base on a South Pacific island. After some of them started asking Leo why the trip kept getting delayed, Leo packed his suitcases and moved to Fiji, without them.
It hasn't been so sunny for Leo's lawyers. His first law firm stopped representing him when he refused to return their calls. Now his current team are imploring the court to unfreeze Leo's $11 million assets so he can settle their bills. The presiding judge has said “It would be nice if everyone gets paid", prompting eager nods from the front bench, but the Tax Office and Leo's parishioners say they should be first in the queue.
So does Leo. Ringing in from Fiji, he's requested $1000 a week for living expenses. Presumably because sunloungers are charged by the hour and hey, cocktails don't buy themselves, buddy.
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In 2010 pastor Rocco Leo faced multiple claims brought by members of his congregation. Leo had told them the government planned to inject them with tiny microchips which would kill them with poison gas, and that if they refused they would be beheaded. Faced with this catch-22, they each paid him up to $1.2 million for safe passage to a secret base on a South Pacific island. After some of them started asking Leo why the trip kept getting delayed, Leo packed his suitcases and moved to Fiji, without them.
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"He says the weather's terrible and we really wouldn't like it" |
It hasn't been so sunny for Leo's lawyers. His first law firm stopped representing him when he refused to return their calls. Now his current team are imploring the court to unfreeze Leo's $11 million assets so he can settle their bills. The presiding judge has said “It would be nice if everyone gets paid", prompting eager nods from the front bench, but the Tax Office and Leo's parishioners say they should be first in the queue.
So does Leo. Ringing in from Fiji, he's requested $1000 a week for living expenses. Presumably because sunloungers are charged by the hour and hey, cocktails don't buy themselves, buddy.