Matthew John Rhodin, boyfriend of model-turned-television personality Charlotte Dawson, has been granted $100,000 bail on fraud charges, but will spend the weekend in jail as he needs time to come up with the money.Rhodin, 42, appeared in Sydney's Central Local Court today after he was arrested by police in his Kings Cross luxury apartment yesterday morning.He faced three charges including two counts of using a false instrument with intent and one of making a false statement to obtain money.
high-flying boyfriend of Australia's Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson has denied charges relating to a $7.35 million (NZD$8.1 million) fraud and must post a $100,000 (NZD$164,046) surety before he can be released on bail.However, Ben Clark, lawyer for Matthew John Rhodin, 42, told Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday that his client was not in a position to post the required surety.Rhodin, of Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east, is accused of providing an inflated property valuation and using two false leases to secure the loan.He pleaded not guilty to two charges of using a false instrument with intent and one charge of making a false statement to obtain money.Dressed in jeans and a long grey t-shirt, with the words Morning Glory written across it, Rhodin clasped his hands together after instructing his lawyer to apply for bail.In granting bail, Magistrate Jane Culver imposed strict conditions, ordering Rhodin to report to Kings Cross police station twice a day, stay away from international departure ports, surrender his passport and provide the $100,000 surety.Ms Culver said the police facts revealed a strong prosecution case and a "very strong likelihood of a significant custodial sentence"."There are some features under the bail act which would suggest this man is a possible flight risk," she said.Officers arrested Rhodin at his luxury apartment at 6.55am yesterday (AEDT) following a three-month investigation.Police allege he used a phantom lease and property valuation to obtain a loan for a commercial property on Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, last year.The vendor of the property agreed to sell it to Rhodin's company NR Marketing for "well below" the estimated value, according to a police statement of facts tendered to the court.Rhodin allegedly submitted an online application to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia for a $7.35 million loan in October 2007 in which he included a $10.5 million (NZD$11.7 million) independent valuation of the Darlinghurst property.Police said he used false lease documents to substantiate to the bank that the property, which contained three vacant floors, would return $385,000 (NZD$427,649) rental income per year between July 2007 and July 2013.But Rhodin's company defaulted last December after failing to make the first repayment of $45,000 (NZD$50,000).Rhodin has recently been spotted at social functions with Dawson, a former model who now stars on the Seven Network reality modelling television show.He is required to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on December 11.
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