SeaRoad took civil action in the Supreme Court late last year alleging Pannell had defrauded the business via a fake invoice scheme.<\/p>\n
The scheme allegedly involved Pannell generating invoices to pay a company named Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors \u2013 of which Pannell was sole shareholder and director \u2013 to repair damaged shipping containers. SeaRoad alleges no work was done to repair the containers.<\/p>\n
Documents filed in court accuse Pannell of sending as many as 10,000 false invoices of about $800 for repairs to shipping containers.<\/p>\n
The court also heard Pannell paid Wilke $10,000 to cover her legal fees after the sale of the thoroughbred horse. He initially told the court he made the sale before freezing orders were imposed in December.<\/p>\n
Last week, Pannell had his driver\u2019s licence suspended for six months after pleading guilty to three charges, including twice failing to stop for police, at a Melbourne Magistrate\u2019s Court.<\/p>\n
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While three charges were dropped, he pleaded guilty to dealing in property \u2013 a white Hyundai Tucson valued at $45,000, an Apple iPhone13 and Microsoft laptop \u2013 that were \u201csuspected of being the proceeds of crime\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pannell was involved in a single vehicle crash on Daylesford-Malmsbury Road near Wheatsheaf on June 8.<\/p>\n
His van ran off the road and hit a tree after he had failed to stop for police, who were trying to enforce a warrant for his arrest over his contempt of court charges.<\/p>\n
SeaRoad\u2019s lawyer, Jonathan Davis, KC, previously accused Pannell of \u201cthumbing his nose\u201d at the court.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Davis requested that Pannell provide details of his bank accounts and those of Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors, within 14 days.<\/p>\n
The court heard that failure to do so will result in SeaRoad applying for a default judgment that Pannell owes the company $8.7 million plus legal costs.<\/p>\n
Pannell, who appeared in court in a grey tracksuit and wearing a face mask and remained expressionless throughout much of the hearing, said he would provide the details of his bank accounts within two weeks.<\/p>\n
Pannell has two weeks to file a defence to allegations that he created fake invoices to defraud SeaRoad.<\/p>\n