Four men have been charged with fraud and money laundering following an 18-month investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) into the dealings of a Brisbane law firm. The CCC alleges that some of the men defrauded the taxpayer-funded Legal Aid service of $340,000 and failed to deposit more than $765,000 into a separate trust account.
Adam Magill, 47, a partner at Lawler Magill, was charged with two counts of aggravated fraud, fraudulent falsification of records and aggravated money laundering. He was refused bail and is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. Former firm solicitors Corey Cullen, 28, and Mitchell Cunningham, 30, were each charged with aggravated fraud and bailed to appear in court on November 19. A fourth man, aged 30, whose identity has been suppressed, was charged with aggravated fraud and aggravated money laundering and remanded in custody.
Magill, a former Queensland police detective, has previously represented high-profile clients including dual international footballer Karmichael Hunt. His lawyer, Chris Hannay, criticised the CCC for executing the arrest warrant on Sunday rather than Friday, calling it 'an abuse of power and a disgusting show of justice'. Hannay confirmed Magill will deny all allegations.
CCC Chairman Alan MacSporran QC stated that any offence against Legal Aid Queensland is fraud against the state's taxpayers, and expressed concern that some allegations involve members of the legal profession.
