Mental health flagged for man's alleged award bets
A man accused of using insider information to place winning bets on the Australian of the Year awards could seek to have his court case dealt with on mental health grounds.
Christopher John Shannon has been charged with six counts of using inside information for a betting purpose, allegedly knowing who the award recipients were before placing bets on the outcome.
It's alleged the 48-year-old Collaroy man used information from a Commonwealth employee to bet between 2017 and 2021.
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His lawyer may apply to have the court deal with his matter on mental health grounds. Rhett Wyman/SMH
Shannon will potentially apply to have the court deal with his matter on mental health grounds, his lawyer Carrie Nicol told Downing Centre Local Court today.
His case was adjourned for two weeks to return to Manly Local Court on January 30.
Shannon allegedly knew biomedical scientist Alan McKay-Sim would become Australian of the Year in 2017, followed by quantum physicist Michelle Simmons in 2018, allowing him to place bets on both.
He also allegedly knew Craig Challen and Richard Harris, two men who helped rescue a young soccer team from a Thai cave, would receive Australian of the Year nods in 2019.
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Dr Craig Challen and Dr Richard Harris shared the 2019 Australian of the Year honour. AAP
Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Local Hero Rosemary Kariuki, Young Australian of the Year Isobel Marshall, Senior Australian of the Year Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann and Australian of the Year Grace Tame during the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards ceremony in Canberra. Alex Ellinghausen
Shannon is accused of being aware that sexual assault survivor advocate Grace Tame would win the 2021 Australian of the Year gong before placing bets.
He also allegedly bet on the 2021 Young Australian of the Year award while knowing the outcome.
Shannon received $7542 from $1767 worth of bets, police alleged.
The charges came after the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission reported betting irregularities in relation to the 2021 awards to the Australian Federal Police.
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