Wright plans appeal
Three Sista’s boss fined after guilty plea
A FOUNDING director of Cairns crisis accommodation Three Sista’s has been fined $16,000.
Stuart James Wright maintains he was wrongly prosecuted despite pleading guilty to 17 offences against the Residential Tenancy Authority.
The charges include using the wrong tenancy agreements, unlawful eviction and falsifying documents.
Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton recorded convictions against Wright, who said he would appeal “both the decision and the conduct of the court”.
“It’s appalling to be honest, it’s not a fair representation of what’s occurred,” he said outside the Cairns courthouse.
If the convictions stand Wright is at risk of losing his real estate licence and his driver’s authority as an Uber driver. He has already submitted his resignation and would be removed as a Three Sista’s director, but said he would continue his involvement in the interim.
Wright had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges and represented himself before swapping to a guilty plea on day two of the hearing in the Cairns Magistrates Court last week. Mr Luxton, who reserved his decision until yesterday afternoon, rejected Wright’s submissions that the RTA has let him down and agreed there was a need for personal and general deterrence.
“The offending is protracted and the victims of these offences were vulnerable tenants with somewhat limited financial means,” Mr Luxton said.
“You have failed in regard to the responsibility you held as a director. On the face of it you have done nothing in terms of correcting the procedure event to this day.”
Mr Wright said he planned to file an appeal.