Simone Wright claims that her ex-husband Paul Bennett was behind a series of Trade Me frauds. Photo: NZ HeraldAn ex-Australian TV presenter allegedly invented a dying child to help perpetrate a $35,000 online fraud, the Christchurch District Court heard today. She has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of obtaining by deception and is facing a judge-alone trial at Christchurch District Court. The Crown claims that the sick child was fictitious and made up to "engender trust and sympathy". It's alleged that in May 2008, Wright set up two Trade Me accounts and two bank accounts while living in Napier.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 17, 2020 01:18 UTC