Ron Bakir: Difference between revisions
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Ron Bakir is a |
'''Ron Bakir''' ({{lang-ar|رون باكر}}) (also known as Rani Muhuddine Hassan) is a Lebanese-Australian [[entrepreneur]] from [[Queensland]], [[Australia]]. |
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Bakir is the founder of the now defunct Mad Ron's [[mobile phone]] retail chain. He gained nationwide media attention as a supporter of [[Schapelle Corby]] in 2005.<ref name=SMH.com.au>{{cite news|last=Kruger|first=Colin|title=Mad Ron's empty shell put into liquidation|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/mad-rons-empty-shell-put-into-liquidation/2005/06/26/1119724526908.html|accessdate=4 November 2011|newspaper=SMH.com.au|date=27 July 2011}}</ref> |
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== Early life == |
== Early life == |
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Bakir was born in [[Lebanon]] in 1977. |
Bakir was born in [[Lebanon]] in 1977. |
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==Corby's "White Knight"== |
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==Early Career== |
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In 1995, at the age of 17, Bakir started the mobile phone chain Crazy Ron’s. Bakir and Crazy Ron’s and gained media cut through as a result of Bakir’s advertising campaigns featuring daring stunts and local celebrities. Crazy Ron’s was dissolved in 2006 following a Trademark dispute with Crazy John. |
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In 2005, Bakir gained attention again as [[Schapelle Corby]]'s "white knight" in helping her with money. The amount of financial support he gave Corby and his exact role in the drug charges against her have never been revealed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Companies-collapse-around-Corbys-white-knight/2005/05/12/1115843314700.html | title=Companies collapse around Schapelle Corby's white knight | publisher=The Sunday Morning Herald | date=May 13, 2005 | accessdate=August 30, 2012 | author=Kruger, Colin}}</ref> Corby's mother said she wished Bakir would "butt out" of Corby's life. Corby's [[Queen's Counsel]] (QC) also told Bakir to "zip his lips", saying that his "limited financial advice" did not entitle him to comment on her behalf.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15693602-2,00.html | deadurl=yes}} {{Dead link|date=December 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> |
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Most Australians agree that Mr. Bakir just wanted to be around a hot media story to further expand his own enterprises and become 'well known', in order to secure his own future. |
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Bakir gained nationwide media attention as a supporter of [[Schapelle Corby]] in 2005. |
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He did not know Corby before he saw her in the news. |
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Ron Bakir retained the services of an Australian law firm (Hoolihans) to investigate where the drugs came from. Given the secrecy surrounding the Australian government's decision to fund the Indonesian lawyers defending Corby at the court, many people assumed that Bakir was also paying their fees. In practice, no one knows whether Bakir actually paid Hoolihans or the Indonesian lawyers, although he offered to publicise documentation. |
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| ⚫ | Bakir claims to have no relationship to Corby other than being from the same city. He reportedly decided to help fund Corby's defence because he believed that a [[miscarriage of justice]] could occur if she were not properly represented. Bakir pledged A$100,000 towards the A$1,000,000 reward fund, although it is not clear that this money will ever have to be paid (the full reward was never raised). |
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Before the prosecution announced their sentencing recommendation, Bakir accused the prosecution team (chief prosecutor [[Ida Bagus Wiswantanu]]) of seeking a [[bribe]] to reduce the requested sentence. The prosecution team and the Indonesian government vehemently denied that this had occurred. Corby's legal team openly admitted their anger at Bakir making these statements before the sentencing recommendation, fearing that it might have encouraged the prosecution to seek a more severe penalty. |
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Corby sacked her main defence lawyer, Lily Lubis, and case coordinator Vasu in July 2005, after Australian lawyer Trowell informed the media that the defence team asked him to request A$500,000 from the Australian government, money meant to bribe the judges of the appeal court.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Bakir-says-sorry-over-Corby-bribe-claim/2005/05/23/1116700619947.html | title=Bakir says sorry over Corby bribe claim | publisher=Sunday Morning Herald | date=May 23, 2005 | accessdate=August 30, 2012}}</ref> |
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Bakir registered a company titled ''Schapelle Corby Pty Ltd'', causing others to raise doubts as to his motives. He subsequently deregistered the company. Corby's father also expressed his concerns about the true intentions of Bakir, and Corby's mother was quoted as saying: "We didn't ask him to come on board, we didn't know him from a bar of soap, and now it seems like he's trying to profit from Schapelle's misery" and "I do think he's got ulterior motives."<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1370543.htm |title=The World Today - Ron Bakir registers Schapelle Corby as company name |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2005-05-17 |accessdate=2012-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15714688-421,00.html | deadurl=yes}} {{Dead link|date=December 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> |
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Many creditors of Mr Bakir's previous businesses questioned his ability to fund Corby's defence. Corby's mother maintained that Bakir asked her to pay him back eventually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/site/articleIDs/268CDD65CD8F71ABCA25700900805623 |title=The Bulletin publishes for the last time |publisher=Bulletin.ninemsn.com.au |date= |accessdate=2012-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/site/articleIDs/679FE2390EED6676CA25702300219676 |title=The Bulletin publishes for the last time |publisher=Bulletin.ninemsn.com.au |date= |accessdate=2012-03-04}}</ref> |
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== Corby's "Black Knight" == |
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She later sacked her lawyers as well as Robin Tampoe due to unrelated issues. By 22 July 2005 Bakir deregistered both ''Schapelle Corby Pty Ltd'' and ''www.schapellecorby.com.au''<ref>{{cite news| url=http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/06/24/1119321900848.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Bakir cuts all ties with Corby | date=24 June 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,16006225%255E662,00.html | deadurl=yes}} {{Dead link|date=December 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> |
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== References == |
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<references/> |
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* [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17880341-29277,00.html Corby verdict 'not surprising'] |
* [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17880341-29277,00.html Corby verdict 'not surprising'] |
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* [http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/site/articleIDs/268CDD65CD8F71ABCA25700900805623 Entrepreneur Ron Bakir says money is no object. His creditors disagree] |
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* [http://www.crn.com.au/print.aspx?CIID=22934&SIID=0 Bakir company enters administration] |
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* [http://aussie_news_views.typepad.com/aussie_news_views/2005/05/schapelle_corby_21.html Schapelle Corby: White Knight under siege] |
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* [http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1380393.htm Ron Bakir's involvement in Schapelle Corby trial media coverage] |
* [http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1380393.htm Ron Bakir's involvement in Schapelle Corby trial media coverage] |
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Revision as of 03:58, 7 July 2013
Ron Bakir (Arabic: رون باكر) (also known as Rani Muhuddine Hassan) is a Lebanese-Australian entrepreneur from Queensland, Australia. Bakir is the founder of the now defunct Mad Ron's mobile phone retail chain. He gained nationwide media attention as a supporter of Schapelle Corby in 2005.[1]
Early life
Bakir was born in Lebanon in 1977.
Corby's "White Knight"
In 2005, Bakir gained attention again as Schapelle Corby's "white knight" in helping her with money. The amount of financial support he gave Corby and his exact role in the drug charges against her have never been revealed.[2] Corby's mother said she wished Bakir would "butt out" of Corby's life. Corby's Queen's Counsel (QC) also told Bakir to "zip his lips", saying that his "limited financial advice" did not entitle him to comment on her behalf.[3] Most Australians agree that Mr. Bakir just wanted to be around a hot media story to further expand his own enterprises and become 'well known', in order to secure his own future. He did not know Corby before he saw her in the news.
Ron Bakir retained the services of an Australian law firm (Hoolihans) to investigate where the drugs came from. Given the secrecy surrounding the Australian government's decision to fund the Indonesian lawyers defending Corby at the court, many people assumed that Bakir was also paying their fees. In practice, no one knows whether Bakir actually paid Hoolihans or the Indonesian lawyers, although he offered to publicise documentation.
Bakir claims to have no relationship to Corby other than being from the same city. He reportedly decided to help fund Corby's defence because he believed that a miscarriage of justice could occur if she were not properly represented. Bakir pledged A$100,000 towards the A$1,000,000 reward fund, although it is not clear that this money will ever have to be paid (the full reward was never raised).
Before the prosecution announced their sentencing recommendation, Bakir accused the prosecution team (chief prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu) of seeking a bribe to reduce the requested sentence. The prosecution team and the Indonesian government vehemently denied that this had occurred. Corby's legal team openly admitted their anger at Bakir making these statements before the sentencing recommendation, fearing that it might have encouraged the prosecution to seek a more severe penalty. Corby sacked her main defence lawyer, Lily Lubis, and case coordinator Vasu in July 2005, after Australian lawyer Trowell informed the media that the defence team asked him to request A$500,000 from the Australian government, money meant to bribe the judges of the appeal court.[4]
Bakir registered a company titled Schapelle Corby Pty Ltd, causing others to raise doubts as to his motives. He subsequently deregistered the company. Corby's father also expressed his concerns about the true intentions of Bakir, and Corby's mother was quoted as saying: "We didn't ask him to come on board, we didn't know him from a bar of soap, and now it seems like he's trying to profit from Schapelle's misery" and "I do think he's got ulterior motives."[3][5][6]
Many creditors of Mr Bakir's previous businesses questioned his ability to fund Corby's defence. Corby's mother maintained that Bakir asked her to pay him back eventually.[7][8]
Corby's "Black Knight"
Schapelle Corby cut ties with Bakir on 24 June 2005 through a letter. The main reason of this, is because Ron Bakir suggested to the media that the judge was wanting a bribe in order for Schapelle Corby to be set free. This damaged the case incredibly. She later sacked her lawyers as well as Robin Tampoe due to unrelated issues. By 22 July 2005 Bakir deregistered both Schapelle Corby Pty Ltd and www.schapellecorby.com.au[9][10]
References
- ^ Kruger, Colin (27 July 2011). "Mad Ron's empty shell put into liquidation". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ Kruger, Colin (May 13, 2005). "Companies collapse around Schapelle Corby's white knight". The Sunday Morning Herald. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ^ a b http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15693602-2,00.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) [dead link] - ^ "Bakir says sorry over Corby bribe claim". Sunday Morning Herald. May 23, 2005. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ^ "The World Today - Ron Bakir registers Schapelle Corby as company name". Abc.net.au. 2005-05-17. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15714688-421,00.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) [dead link] - ^ "The Bulletin publishes for the last time". Bulletin.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
- ^ "The Bulletin publishes for the last time". Bulletin.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
- ^ "Bakir cuts all ties with Corby". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 June 2005.
- ^ http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,16006225%255E662,00.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) [dead link]