Victims Compensation Tribunal - Provisional Order for Restitution

Published 24 Oct 2011

Case Study

Criminal Defence Lawyers Sydney and Parramatta Offices

Criminal offence – Criminal Matter- VCT – Victims Compensation Tribunal- Provisional Order for Restitution- Restitution Hearing- Significant Reduction

Nyman Gibson Stewart

Criminal Lawyers

Victims Compensation Tribunal at Parramatta

Represented by Solicitor: Christopher Yee 

Facts: Our client received notification from Victims Services that he was required to pay a sum in excess of $9,000.00 in Victims Compensation. Our client had been convicted and sentenced of indecent assault some time before approaching Nyman Gibson Stewart for assistance. This client was a person of relatively insignificant means- he had few assets, many liabilities and some health concerns. He was not in a position to pay the amount requested.

Result: Mr Yee attended the Victims Compensation Tribunal and entered into negotiations with the tribunal advocate. His client was offered a moderate reduction following the negotiations. This was not satisfactory and the matter was listed before a Magistrate. Before the Magistrate, Mr Yee mounted a complex legal argument which challenged the validity of the compensation amount. He also addressed the Magistrate on his client’s personal circumstances.

After hearing from Mr Yee, the Magistrate agreed to an offer by our client to pay a lump sum of $750.00. That equates to a reduction of more than 90% off the initial amount.

The client was overjoyed. Had he been required to pay the full amount he would not have been able to support himself and his health would have suffered significantly.

Like all of our criminal defence team, Christopher can be contacted 24/7 for urgent legal advice.  Christopher works from our Parramatta office.