Former private secretary of billionaire philanthropist charged with fraud
Updated . First published at
The former private secretary of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson has been charged with dozens of counts of fraud.
Annalouise Spence, 50, was arrested at her home in Erskineville in Sydney's inner west yesterday after she allegedly used a business credit card to make more than $1 million worth of purchases.
Detectives now claim she made 350 fraudulent purchases over a two-year period to fund a lavish lifestyle.
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Judith Neilson and her former private secretary Annalouise Spence. Supplied
Police will allege Spence used the billionaire's black American Express card, spending $1.6 million between March 2023 and September 2025.
Purchases allegedly included $400,000 on travel, more than $300,000 on clothes and nearly $200,000 on jewellery.
Clothing and artwork was seized by detectives during a raid of her home and a storage unit in Campbelltown.
Applying for bail this afternoon, Spence's lawyer said she was suffering from severe mental health issues, including PTSD and bipolar.
Spence's lawyer said she had paid back more than $800,000 so far to her former employer.
Despite her attempt to pay back her alleged debts, she was refused bail.
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