On 24 October 2017, Mr Ricky David Gillespie pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to one rolled-up charge alleging the forgery of 33 documents (see 16-144MR).

Mr Gillespie provided advice as a former representative of the Commonwealth Bank's financial planning subsidiary, Commonwealth Financial Planning Limited (CFPL).

ASIC alleged that between 1 January 2007 and 13 June 2009, Mr Gillespie, while a Senior Financial Planner based at the Broadbeach Commonwealth Bank branch on the Gold Coast, forged the signatures of a number of the bank's clients to whom he was providing financial advice.

It is alleged Mr Gillespie forged the signatures of clients on documents including applications for financial products and a series of internal CFPL documents, and that the purpose of the forgeries was to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Bank's internal audit process.

At a mention in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 3 November 2017, a sentencing date was set down for 12 December 2017.

The matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

Background

In 2014, ASIC placed conditions on the AFS licence of CFPL. ASIC continues to monitor the licence conditions. (refer: 14-192MR)

In 2012, Mr Gillespie was permanently banned by ASIC from providing any financial services. (refer: 12-269MR)