Rochester on 12 month good behaviour
Ajay Rochester has escaped a conviction recorded but is on a 12-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to welfare fraud.
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The Biggest Loser host Ajay Rochester has escaped having a conviction recorded against her but is on a 12-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to welfare fraud, reports The Australian.
Rochester was embraced by supporters after the decision was handed down in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court this afternoon.
She is due to give a press conference shortly.
Magistrate Pat O’Shane ruled no conviction be recorded, saying she took into consideration testimonies provided to the court detailing Rochester’s good character and the extenuating circumstances of being a single mother with a child who suffers Asperger’s Syndrome.
Ms O’Shane also noted Rochester had repaid $14,000 that she received as welfare when she was not eligible.
“The court notes that she has repaid all monies … to the Commonwealth,” she told the court.
“By reason of your character … health and other extenuating circumstances, you are discharged without proceeding to a conviction.”
Rochester stood calmly wearing a black dress with her hair tied back as Ms O’Shane read her judgment.
Ms O’Shane order Rochester to pay court costs of $70, and ordered that $1500 would have to be paid if she breached her good behaviour bond.
“I’m extremely relieved that this is all over and I am very happy with the result,” Rochester said.
“I’m just so happy to put it behind me and move on with my life and go home and be with my boy and be happy and just get on with my future.”
Source / photo: The Australian, ABC
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11 Responses
What happened to not being able to profit from crime???
I was watching A Current Affair last night and she was on. Man was she fat. It’s quite ironic seeing as at the finales of TBL, everyone says she’s the fattest, but compared to what she used to be, she looks thins as.
Speaking of ACA, last night they also showed a story about Big Cats. Then this morning on Sunrise they were talking about it, showing vision for ACA. Something’s worng there, because then the sports reader said that he saw that story last night. So that means he’s watching NINE instead of seven.
I wouldn’t call her a welfare cheat. It was $16,000 over six years. It’s important to remember that she had called Centrelink anonymously to check if she owed money before hiring an accountant to settle her debts, and then she was investigated after she had already started paying the money back.
It’s been reported that this AJ Rochester could sell her Centrelink story for up to $100,000 for anyone willing to listen – that leaves a real sick feeling in my stomach – yesterday she was facing a possible jail term – today she stands to make money from obtaining money under false pretences – it’s almost like we are rewarding people who do the wrong thing – the world has definitely gone mad – I’m sure there are other welfare cheats out there, who’ve also been caught, been fined and possibly jailed and are looking at this case and thinking – what the hell??
Its just wrong – even if she paid the money back it was still fraudulent. Must be nic to have such powerful friends.
Yes.
so is she still the host of loser?
She got off cause she is on tv,what a joke our justice system is.She will be back hosting biggest loser again this year……
I want to see what the promos are like now for Biggest loser.
Have they been “dual filming” waiting for a court outcome ? 🙂
‘Must be good to have such wonderful testimonies provided to the court detailing Rochester’s good character by “powerful friends” ‘
Also good to have a magistrate who doesn’t like authorities like the police etc… and presumably Centrelink.
Lucky girl.
Must be good to have such wonderful testimonies provided to the court detailing Rochester’s good character by “powerful friends”