Former Adelaide financial adviser, Robert Pryor Smith, has appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates’ Court after being charged with 27 dishonesty offences.

ASIC alleges that between 14 October 2010 and 12 July 2016, Mr Smith stole approximately $179,600 from a deceased estate of which he was executor, by transferring the money from the estate account to one of his own accounts. The property was jointly owned by the beneficiaries of the estate, who were charitable organisations.

The offences were allegedly committed when Mr Smith was a financial adviser of Futuro Financial Services Pty Ltd (Futuro) and director of Advice 4 Wealth Pty Ltd (A4W), and when Mr Smith and Futuro were authorised representatives of A4W.

Mr Smith appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 7 June 2019. Mr Smith was placed on bail and was remanded to appear in the committal court on 23 July 2019.

Mr Smith faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for each offence committed prior to May 2012, or 15 years imprisonment for each offence committed after that time.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is prosecuting the matter following referral of a brief from ASIC.

Background

On 8 January 2018, ASIC took administrative action against Mr Smith, permanently banning him from providing financial services, on the basis that he was not of good fame or character (18-006MR).

Editor's note:

On 23 July 2019, Robert Pyror Smith failed to attend court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.