Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell accused of fraud fails to show up in court

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Ex-AFL umpire Troy Pannell accused of fraud fails to show up in court

The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of former

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umpire Troy Pannell has continued after he failed to show up in court on Friday.

Pannell’s name was called out at Victoria’s Supreme Court but he was not in attendance.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Troy Pannell fails to show up in court.

It’s the second time he has missed a scheduled court appearance.

An arrest warrant has been issued to bring the former AFL umpire before Justice Andrew Watson in a civil case.

Camera IconTroy Pannell is on the run from the law. Credit: Getty Images

His former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, is pursuing him over $8.7 million they allege he defrauded from them.

“The court believes he’s left Victoria, possibly heading to South Australia,” 7NEWS reporter Rory Campbell said.

“If officers catch up with Troy Pannell, they’re instructed to keep him in custody until the next hearing.”

Pannell officiated 291 AFL games from 2005 to 2018 — including a controversial 2016 match where he awarded 17 free kicks to the eventual flag-winning Bulldogs and only one to Adelaide during a regular season game.

Pannell allegedly defrauded shipping company SeaRoad Shipping $8.7 million over a decade, while working out of the Port of Melbourne,

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The scheme allegedly involved Pannell generating invoices to pay a company named Independent Container Surveyors & Assessors (ICSA) to repair damaged shipping containers. Each “repair” cost SeaRoad $800 to $900.

It is alleged Pannell had authority to approve purchase orders up to the value of $5000, and it was only when a finance manager noticed ICSA was not registered for GST that suspicions were raised.

SeaRoad alleges ICSA did no work to repair any containers and never checked the work had been done as it trusted Pannell to follow the proper processes of the company.

“SeaRoad is satisfied you have committed serious misconduct. You have been the sole shareholder and director of ICSA from 2010 to date. We find your response that you did not know you held these positions to be fanciful,” a letter from SeaRoad to Pannell, tendered in the civil court case, read.

It also comes as

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private emails uncovered in a forensic search revealed Pannell apologised to his wife Lynise Woodgate.

In an email sent in October 2023 titled “Love U”, Pannell wrote: “I’m so sorry for everything …. I don’t know (w)here 3 years have gone, we have been so busy …. And had I realised everything I am feeling right now, 3 years ago … … I would not feel the way I do today.

“Hopefully your day is not too stressful u there, and enjoy your night.”

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