Foster fights ‘bogus’ claims
SERIAL conman Peter Foster has claimed police are withholding documents from him which would help him defend allegations of running a $2 million bitcoin scam.
Foster, who claims the allegations are “bogus”, was arrested in Port Douglas in 2020 in a sting set up on the beach while he was walking his dog.
Foster spent months in New South Wales until police dropped charges against him last year.
He was to return to Queensland to face the current fraud charges but was found to be in Victoria in December last year. He was given bail in the Southport Magistrates Court.
On Thursday Foster’s matter was scheduled for a short mention to ensure it was progressing.
His lawyer Lee Quinn, of Hannay Lawyers, asked for a directions hearing to finalise disclosure of evidence.
Mr Quinn said prosecution had not provided all the evidence to them as required.
Prosecutor Amelia BakerSmith said: “We have disclosed everything in the possession of the Queensland Police Service.
“They have requested documents we do not have in our possession.”
Mr Quinn told the court:
“Our office is of the opinion that they do have the material or are able to get in their possession.”
Magistrate Catherine Pirie asked Mr Quinn if he was accusing the prosecution of lying.
Mr Quinn said “no”. Magistrate Pirie ordered the matter to go to a directions hearing to determine what to do about the requested documents. That hearing is scheduled for October 26.
Outside of court, Foster said they were having to drag police “kicking and screaming” to hand over the evidence.
“We went through this in Sydney,” he said.
“Month after month after month we had to go back to get them to disclose material and when they finally did they dropped the charges and I expect that’s what will happen here.”
He described the allegations as “bogus”.
“Always was, always will be,” he said.
“If it wasn’t I would be drowning under a stack of evidence.”
When asked what made him think the (disclosure) evidence exists, Foster replied: “Because it does, it simply does.
“Let me put it this way, if it existed in the hands of the New South Wales Police how does it not exist in the hands of the Queensland Police.
“Or does that suggest it has gone missing in between which is even more serious.”
Foster said he believed police had “realised they should never have picked this up in the first place.”
“Any thinking person can see that and I think they are looking for a way out but they are also looking for a way to save face,” he said.
“They are probably just looking thinking the older it gets, the colder it gets and they will drift away and fade away.
“One day I will walk out here and there will be no press here, no one will have any interest and there will be no charge to face.”
When asked what would happen if the matter went to trial, Foster replied: “If it goes to trial they will lose, there is simply no case to answer.”