Disgraced social media star Belle Gibson has failed to appear in court to answer questions about her health scam and fundraising fraud.
The Melbourne 24-year-old was supposed to appear before the Federal Court for a hearing with the Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The consumer group says Gibson falsely claimed that she had healed herself of terminal cancer and ran unlawful fundraising appeals to promote her top-rating app and cookbook, The Whole Pantry.
Until her deception was exposed by former friends, Gibson had collected thousands of dollars in the name of charity in 2013 and 2014.
The discredited wellness blogger has refused to appear at a case management hearing or file a defence in the civil case brought against her earlier this year.
Barrister Catherine Button, for Consumer Affairs Victoria, told the court that she had not heard from Gibson.
Earlier this year, a statement by Consumer Affairs Victoria said “the alleged contraventions relate to false claims by Gibson and her company concerning her diagnosis with terminal brain cancer, her rejection of conventional cancer treatments in favour of natural remedies, and the donation of proceeds to various charities.”
Justice Debbie Mortimer last month stretched the deadline for Gibson to be involved in civil proceedings after she had already skipped numerous court hearings.
Cancer sufferer Ashley told the Herald Sun she hopes the judge will “throw the book at her”.
“This thief needs to be brought to justice — I really hope she doesn’t get off scot-free,” she said.
“She needs to pay for her crimes. Pretending to have cancer and ripping all of those charities off and duping all of those people is disgusting.”
The young mum made more than $1 million in profits from her cookbook and wellness app, The Whole Pantry, say reports.
The maximum penalty she can face is $1.1 million.
