In Wednesday’s (9/1) Telegraph (London), John Bingham reports, “Cameron Poole, 36, is said to have plundered the orchestra’s accounts by forging signatures on cheques and credit cards. He is alleged to have siphoned off the money to pay for flights, jewellery, artwork, clothes and even an extension to his £900,000 family home in south London. His secret payments went undiscovered for almost three years, draining the orchestra’s reserve fund and leaving it facing total losses estimated at more than £2.3 million. The Australian-born accountant, whose assets have been frozen as part of a separate High Court action by the orchestra, admitted charges of fraud by abuse of position and acquiring and using criminal property during a brief hearing at Southwark Crown Court yesterday. … The revelation caused a scandal in the arts world and the orchestra has since been locked in a battle to recover the money. His wife Suzanne, a Tory councillor with parliamentary ambitions, has since separated from him. Earlier this year the orchestra secured a High Court ruling against Poole, valuing its losses at £2.3 million and freezing his assets while it attempts to recoup the funds.”
Posted September 1, 2010
