West Australian tech billionaire Laurence Escalante has been hit with more drug-related offences, meaning he now faces 17 criminal charges including the alleged assault of his ex-partner.
The 44-year-old owner of the Virtual Gaming Worlds empire, which operates a network of casino-style online games in the United States and has propelled Escalante’s net worth to about $4.5 billion, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court for a second time on Thursday to vary the conditions of his bail to allow him more freedom.
The court was also told that he now faces nine new charges which include three charges of possessing a prohibited drug and six charges of unlawful possession of a controlled or prescription drug.
Escalante was initially charged with stealing, aggravated home burglary, unlawful assault and possession of cocaine and MDMA with intent to sell or supply.
The court previously heard he was arrested by police at his Perth address on January 29 after an incident between him and his former partner that included allegations he punched the 24-year-old in the face before “stealing” jewellery including a Cartier watch and bracelets.
The woman later told police that Escalante had assaulted her on multiple occasions over the course of their relationship while they were on overseas trips and claimed that he showed a repeated pattern of “coercive, violent and controlling behaviour”.
The billionaire, who arrived at court flanked by security guards on Thursday, released a statement after his arrest last month, which he said “came as a shock”, and denied the allegations against him.
During the hearing on Thursday, his lawyers requested a variation to his bail conditions from not being allowed to be within 500 metres of any departure point, to not being allowed within 500 metres of any international departure point only.
Other conditions the rich-lister faced included reporting three times a week to his nearest police station. Escalante also had to front up a bond of $100,000 before he was released from custody on January 31.
The court was told he planned to fight all charges.
If convicted, Escalante could be forced to forfeit some of his fortune under WA’s proceeds of crime laws.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said on Thursday he would not comment directly on the billionaire’s matter as it was before the courts, but confirmed that police did have the option to seize assets.
Speaking generally, Blanch said: “But ultimately, at the end of any of those investigations, we do have to link the profit to the use or sale of drugs with the conclusion.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
