Stephen George Snowden, 53, of Ferntree Gully, has been ordered to pay costs of more than $29,000, plus a fine of $12,000, after he was found guilty of offences under Victorian retirement village laws.
A hearing at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court found that Mr Snowden breached the Retirement Villages Act 1986 by being involved in managing a retirement village:
- while he was insolvent, and
- before five years had passed after a conviction for an offence involving fraud or dishonesty, punishable with a prison term of not less than three months.
Under the law, a person must meet criteria before they can be involved in a retirement village’s management. For more, see Register a retirement village.
Mr Snowden was involved in the management of Berkeley Living Retirement Village in Patterson Lakes. The village is now closed.
Consumer Affairs Victoria worked with other agencies to find new accommodation for residents.