The Gen-X-Ray A critical examination of the world through Gen X eyes

26Mar/100

NZ Banker spent $3.4 million on hookers

A prostitute has walked away with $2.5 million spent by a banker stealing clients' money to fuel an extravagant lifestyle of sex, booze and luxury property.

Stephen Gerard Versalko, 52, married with three children, lived the high life for nine years after siphoning $17,763,110.19 off 30 wealthy clients from ASB Bank, where he worked.

Outside of buying property, his biggest spend was on sex – including $3.34m on just two Auckland prostitutes with whom he had long-term relationships.

One received $2.5m, the other $791,181. The Serious Fraud Office said both women also say they received further "large cash payments" estimated at $800,000.

Still more was spent at a variety of escort agencies around Auckland. The SFO could not track all the payments because they included cash taken out using seven credit cards that Versalko had.
[...]
The gravy train finally came to a halt in August last year, when one of his elderly clients with $3m invested with Versalko saw a documentary about US fraudster Bernie Madoff and spotted similarities in the schemes they both ran.

When she contacted ASB Bank Securities to check, she found no record of her $3m. It triggered an urgent investigation and, on August 25, Versalko was confronted, admitted the fraud and was later sacked.

How ironic. If it wasn't for Bernie Madoff he wouldn't have got caught.

Filed under: LOL, Law Enforcement, Scams No Comments

26Oct/092

Man arrested in Dubai for swearing at a policeman – has passport confiscated

'What the f---?' Aussie arrested in Dubai after swearing at policeman - The Age 26/10/09

When Sun McKay was manhandled by a stranger in the arrivals hall at Dubai International Airport, he did what many young Australians would do. He swore.

"This guy in a blue shirt grabbed my wrist quite hard, pulled me towards him and started yelling at me in Arabic, and I just said: 'What the f---?'" Mr McKay said.

Unbeknown to Mr McKay, the man was a plainclothes airport policeman, and the 32-year-old private security consultant had just committed a crime.

Almost a month later, with his passport confiscated, Mr McKay remains stranded in the Emirate awaiting trial on charges of insulting and using inappropriate language to a police officer.

Mr McKay has already spent 15,000 dirham ($4500) on legal fees, with no end in sight.

Good grief. Maybe he should have tried a bribe. That normally works in countries as corrupt as Saudi Arabia.

Filed under: Law Enforcement 2 Comments

26Oct/090

UK police ’spotter card’ leaked

Spotter cards: What they look like and how they work - The Guardian 25/10/09

This kind of highly confidential document – pictured above – is rarely seen by the public.

These so-called "spotter cards" are issued by police to identify individuals they consider to be potential troublemakers because they have appeared at a number of demonstrations.

The photographs are drawn from police intelligence files. This card was apparently dropped at a demonstration against Britain's largest arms fair in 2005.

Golly. Wouldn't want to be the cop that lost this.

Filed under: LOL, Law Enforcement, Politics No Comments

24Oct/090

Dallas cops ticket people for not speaking english

Dallas police chief: Dozens of tickets issued for not speaking English - Dallas Morning News 24/10/09

Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said this afternoon that his officers have written at least 39 citations to people over the past three years for not speaking English.

Apologizing publicly to the city's Spanish-speaking community, the chief said all officers and supervisors involved will be investigated for dereliction of duty. All pending citations will be dismissed, and people who paid fines will be reimbursed.

"I was stunned that this would happen," Kunkle said at a news conference.

Good grief. Cant say I'm surprised though. I wonder what they do to people with Australian accents.

Filed under: Law Enforcement No Comments