SmartCompany is reporting that Enzo di Donato has received a suspended jail sentence of one year for matters related to Bill Express, the bill payment system promoted to newsagents from 2003 to 2008 by the ANF.
While claiming another scalp is good news for the regulators, they are yet to bring to account enough of those involved in what I’d label a scam that stripped newsagency businesses of more than $70 million.
Newsagents were used to fund other activities of the group. We were pressured to sign leases costing around $25,000 over term for equipment worth just a few thousand dollars. Promises were often made by company representatives that were not fulfilled. The handling of the matter split industry associations and newsagents. While some of us were telling newsagents to stop paying their leases, the ANF advised newsagents to keep paying. The company collapsed around a year after this and outstanding lease payments were not pursued.
There are directors and others of the business who I’d like to see brought to account.
Bill express was a disgrace.