We acted for a Sydney-based client who had been charged in Queensland for possessing counterfeit money and fraud after a work trip to the Gold Coast.

The allegation was that our client had paid for items at a restaurant using counterfeit cash, the possession of such being an offence, and thereby defrauding the restaurant.

We briefed a Queensland barrister to defend our client at trial, and on the day, after negotiation with the prosecution and on our and counsel’s advice, our client decided to plead to the possession of the notes and offer to repay the amount allegedly defrauded to the restaurant in exchange for dropping the fraud charges.

The deal struck, we made submissions in mitigation and our client was fined a small amount and released without conviction.