Glamorous lawyer’s alleged $150m fraud

·2-min read
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Ashlyn Nassif is accused of committing a $150m fraud. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The glamorous lawyer daughter of embattled property developer Jean Nassif has fronted court as she faces allegations she used fraudulent contracts to get a $150m loan.

Ashlyn Nassif was arrested earlier this year following a police raid on four properties, including the offices of her law firm EA Legal, and charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and publishing false or misleading material.

The 27-year-old is accused of submitting fake contracts to meet a $10.5m pre-sale condition for the Sky View apartments in Castle Hill in Sydney’s northwest.

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Ashlyn Nassif faced court on Wednesday over an alleged $150m fraud. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard
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She faced Burwood Local Court with her mother. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard
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She wore a matching set with rosary beads around her neck. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Nassif appeared at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday wearing a chequered black-and-white set paired with knee-high boots.

The glamorous lawyer held onto her black shoulder bag as she walked into the courthouse, while a set of rosary beads hung around her neck.

She appeared before magistrate Vivien Swain, who adjourned the matter for two weeks. Ms Nassif does not have to appear at the next occasion if she is legally represented.

Over three months in late 2021, Ms Nassif is accused of submitting fake contracts to Westpac Bank to dishonestly obtain a $150m loan to fund three of the five Skyview towers that consisted of about 960 apartments.

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She is accused of submitting fake contracts to Westpac Bank. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The apartment tower complex was being built by her father’s development company, Toplace.

At the time of the alleged offending, Ms Nassif was a legal practitioner in the NSW Supreme Court and a partner at EA Legal. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the firm.

Ms Nassif was granted bail in May after her family put up a $2.6m surety.

She is not allowed to contact 24 people linked to the alleged fraud, must live at her mother’s Chiswick home and abide by a curfew from 9pm to 6am.

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Ms Nassif was granted bail after her family put up a $2.6m surety. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Nassif has had to surrender her passport and report to Burwood Police Station every day.

Her property developer father is among the people she cannot contact, but there is no suggestion he is involved in any wrongdoing.

In 2019, Mr Nassif went viral on social media for gifting his 34-year-old wife Nissering “Nissy”’ Nassif a $480,000 Lamborghini.

Ms Nassif is yet to enter pleas. The matter will return to court this month.