"My client's too ill to come. And he's delusional. And, um, he doesn't exist!"
Recent developments in the soap opera that is legal authorities’ attempts to get Firepower principal Tim Johnston to show up in court:
Firepower boss avoids night in jail, despite a warrant for his arrest having indeed been issued. “Our client has every intention to voluntarily appear before court on Friday”, says his lawyer.
Firepower boss delusional, court told (”I’m sorry, m’lud, but it’s entirely impossible for my client to attend these proceedings. He’s hopelessly delusional, don’t you know. The man actually believes himself to be innocent.”)
Oh, and one Geoff McDonald, erstwhile spokesdude for Firepower’s liquidators, has himself been struck off for two years over a conflict of interest.
I presume there’s somebody, somewhere in the world, who had a business relationship with Firepower and wasn’t in some way crooked. But I don’t, off the top of my head, know who that somebody might be.
UPDATE: Tim’s (finally) been arrested.
I heard on ABC radio last night that the doctor didn't examine him in any way, didn't even meet him, but gave the letter after talking to him over the phone.
My google-fu is weak, and I can't find the corresponding details in any articles.
Comment by tantryl — December 3, 2009 @ 11:42 am
Found it!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/02/2760128.htm?site=perth
*Justice Siopis said Dr MacKay made the recommendation without actually examining the Firepower founder*
Comment by tantryl — December 3, 2009 @ 11:43 am
Who do you think will play Tim in the movie?
Robin Williams? Will Ferrell? Jim Carrey perhaps?....
Definitely make for a good Seinfeld or Curb episode.... :)
Comment by creekin — December 3, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
And Dan is played by Tim Minchin.
Comment by Dan Todd — December 3, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
better than Nick Minchin...
Comment by unfunk — December 3, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
I think my favourite quote from the doctor is this:
"...he exhibited many delusional thoughts," Dr Mackay said. "He said he thought people were following him or after him or trying to harm him."
I don't think I'd describe those thoughts as delusional given how many unhappy creditors Firepower has.
Comment by christophermoore — December 3, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Clearly, Tim must for his own safety be put in protective custody, immediately.
It's statistically improbable that the kiddy-fiddlers, informants and bent cops that may share his facility were actually victims of the Firepower fraud. But I imagine they could derive a lot of innocent entertainment from persuading Tim that, by some freak of chance, they all actually did lose their life savings by buying his shares.
Comment by Daniel Rutter — December 4, 2009 @ 12:36 am
Well, looks like the long arm 'o the law has finally caught up with Tim.
Story at the NineMSN news site: Firepower boss arrested on Gold Coast.
Comment by Chazzozz — December 4, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
In a new development, news.com.au is reporting that Tim Johnston has been arrested:
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26439922-5006301,00.html
Comment by benw01 — December 4, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
I was just this moment adding an update to mention that :-).
Comment by Daniel Rutter — December 4, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
I just found this advert for a fuel-saving device in a old marvel comic from 1967. It seems not much has changed since then.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t243/TaBu-NiW/Avengers041_07b.jpg
Comment by Buckermann — December 5, 2009 @ 12:59 am
OK, that one's worth a picture:
Here's more about the "GT Energy Chamber", which seems to just have been a flow-restrictor for the fuel line. I bet somebody's still selling it, too.
Comment by Daniel Rutter — December 5, 2009 @ 11:37 am