Solicitor jailed for 10 years for misappropriating millions meant for charities
By Naomi Neilson|17 March 2021
A Sydney-based solicitor has been jailed for 10 years for misappropriating more than $6 million that two deceased clients had left to charitable organisations.
Mark Lee O Brien was handed the sentence in the District Court of NSW after it found him guilty of fraudulently obtaining more than $6 million from his clients in 2015, 2017 and 2018 to purchase a $3.5 million property and to allegedly intend to use some of the funds to keep his firm afloat.
He will serve a non-parole period of six years and his wife, Therese O Brien, will serve three years by way of intensive correction order. Mr O Brien’s practising certificate was immediately suspended by the Law Society in 2019 following a referral after his fraudulent behaviour was eventually suspected.