VETERAN Maitland accountant Michael Unicomb has been committed to stand trial in the Newcastle District Court on charges he allegedly obtained money by deception from a $1.4 million property deal.
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The 64-year-old, of Goodhugh St, East Maitland, has pleaded not guilty to four charges that date back almost a decade.
Detective Senior Constable Shawn Schussler from the State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad, based in Parramatta, brought the charges.
The matter was first listed in Maitland Local Court in March 2018.
According to court documents, Mr Unicomb is alleged to have represented to David Dixon in November 2009 that it was in his best interest to sell a property at Lovedale, near Cessnock, to Loire Consulting for $1.4 million.
It's alleged he also got Mr Dixon, who is now deceased, to lend the money for the purchase of the property to Loire Consulting.
"He dishonestly obtained for himself, or another, a financial advantage, namely the transfer of the title of that property to Loire Consulting for no consideration," the court attendance notice reads.
Mr Unicomb is also accused of submitting false information about Mr Dixon's income and assets on a loan application between October and December 2010 to Westpac Bank.
It's alleged the accountant dishonestly gained for himself, or another person, the money advanced from the Westpac loan.
The third charge relates to a $300,000 loan to Loire Consulting from another lender known as Wallace McKenzie Ashton.
It is alleged Mr Unicomb obtained more than $15,000 by deception by representing to Mr Dixon that the purpose of the $300,000 loan was to develop the property at Lovedale.
According to the court documents, Mr Unicomb is alleged to have dishonestly obtained for himself, or another person, money from the loan.
The final charge relates to another loan allegedly taken out from Eclipse Prudent Mortgages Corporation in March 2010.
Police will allege that Mr Unicomb dishonestly obtained financial advantage by deception at East Maitland by submitting false information about the income and the assets of Mr Dixon, who went guarantor for the loan.
It is alleged that Mr Unicomb gained for himself, or another person, money from the loan.
DPP solicitor Patricia Collins told Magistrate Robert Stone on Tuesday that one charge had been withdrawn.
Ms Collins said the brief of evidence could not be handed up to the bench as it was too large, instead she submitted a summary of the matter.
Mr Unicomb was represented by solicitor Drew Hamilton, of Hamilton Janke Lawyers.
Mr Hamilton confirmed that his client had signed a waiver so the matter did not proceed to a commital hearing.
Magistrate Stone commited Mr Unicomb to stand trial in the Newcastle District Court.
The matter was adjourned to October 17 for arraignment.
