Former Victorian MP Russell Northe has been jailed for misconduct, after defrauding taxpayers and using the money to gamble on sports betting apps. The one-time government minister wept in court and was placed on suicide watch, as he was sentenced to at least twelve months behind bars.
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TVTranscript
00:00 Russell North gambled with taxpayers' money.
00:05 He lost and now he's paid the ultimate price.
00:09 In 2019 and 2020, the regional Victorian MP doctored invoices and bank statements, enabling
00:16 him to collect $173,000 of parliamentary allowances.
00:21 He blew the money on the sports betting websites TabCorp and Ladbrokes.
00:26 Today North was jailed for 21 months for misconduct in public office.
00:31 I find that your criminality was sophisticated, protracted and brazen.
00:37 Russell North was devastated during this morning's hearing, sobbing as he sat inside the county
00:43 court dock.
00:44 The judge was so concerned for his mental health, he placed him on immediate suicide
00:49 watch.
00:50 For 16 years, North was the local member for Morwell in Gippsland and served as a minister
00:55 in the former Knappthine government.
00:57 He was a popular figure, but behind the scenes was battling addictions and a gambling habit
01:03 that was out of control.
01:04 Did I gamble too much?
01:07 Absolutely.
01:08 Did I drink too much?
01:10 Absolutely.
01:11 But his problems continued.
01:13 His latest deception was uncovered by the state's anti-corruption watchdog IBAC.
01:18 North will continue to receive psychiatric treatment while in jail.
01:22 He'll be eligible for parole after serving 12 months.
01:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]