PERRIN IN SECRET COURT HEARING
A SECRET hearing on Matthew Perrin’s prison term was held in the Supreme Court three months before his mysterious early release.
The hearing, held on March 19, was between exBillabong boss Perrin and the Parole Board of Queensland, and was closed to the public.
Authorities have not revealed the reason for the highly unusual move to release Perrin a full year before his parole eligibility date. Perrin appeared again on the Gold Coast yesterday venturing to the gym and emerged an hour later alongside son Jake and daughter Larissa.
He was sentenced in 2017 to eight years in jail after being convicted of forging his ex-wife’s signature to secure a $13.5 million loan secured against his wife’s Cronin Island home.
A SECRET hearing on Matthew Perrin’s prison term was held in the Supreme Court three months before his mysterious early release.
The hearing, held on March 19, was between ex-Billabong boss Perrin and the Parole Board of Queensland and was closed to the public.
The Bulletin this week revealed Perrin was released a full year before his parole eligibility date. Authorities have not revealed the reason for the highly unusual move.
Legal sources say Perrin could have been released early by having his sentence reopened, receiving a new penalty and having a new parole eligibility date set.
One way this could happen would be by cooperating in an ongoing criminal investigation.
Yesterday he left his new home and ventured to the gym wearing a hoodie, emerging an hour later showing off his fit physique in a sleeveless shirt alongside son Jake and daughter Larissa.
Perrin was sentenced in 2017 to eight years jail after a jury convicted him of forging his ex-wife’s signature to secure a $13.5 million loan secured against his wife’s Cronin Island home on the Gold Coast, which he used to invest in a speculative and ultimately disastrous Chinese supermarket business.
In a Court of Appeal decision in September, 2017, Perrin’s parole eligibility date was listed as being in June 2020.
In a hearing in July last year, Perrin tried to secretly hand Justice David Jackson a document he said related to his incarceration.
Perrin told the court it was for the judge’s eyes only. But Justice Jackson rejected the request.
It is understood Perrin had also written a number of letters to authorities attempting to negotiate an early release.
Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said Perrin’s release was a decision made by the state’s parole board. Refusing to comment about the case, he said when the board made parole decisions, whether it was exceptional circumstances, parole or otherwise, they considered a variety of factors.
“Those factors include the health of a particular person, family reasons, personal reasons, whether they’ve co-operated with legal and law enforcement agencies, as well as their behaviour and participation in rehabilitation programs,” Mr Ryan said.
While not commenting specifically on the case, a Parole Board Queensland spokeswoman said the Corrective Services Act allowed a prisoner to apply for an exceptional circumstances parole order at any time, which could begin at any time.
“Parole Board Queensland takes into account individual circumstances, relevant law and the Ministerial Guidelines in making its decisions,” the spokeswoman said.