The Federal Court has fined Lualhati Jutsen, also known as Teddi Jutsen, $10,000 for contempt of court orders relating to bank withdrawals.
"This case highlights the ACCC's determination to pursue contempt action when orders of the court have been breached or not complied with," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.
Ms Jutsen was a respondent in the ACCC's TVI Express pyramid selling scheme proceedings.
Earlier this year, Ms Jutsen was found in contempt of the Federal Court by withdrawing $35,000 through a series of six transactions from an ANZ bank account on 28 May 2010, when at the time she was restrained from making withdrawals from this account beyond those required to meet her ordinary living expenses.
Justice Jagot considered a fine of $10,000 was appropriate in all of the circumstances, including the fact that Ms Jutsen was already subject to a substantial fine of $90,000 in the pyramid selling scheme case. Justice Jagot also took into account the fact that Ms Jutsen has been ordered to pay the ACCC's costs of the contempt proceeding on an indemnity basis.
In November 2011, the Federal Court declared TVI Express a pyramid scheme. People who wished to participate in the scheme were required to pay a membership fee of $330. Once an individual had paid the $330, they received a 'travel certificate' and the opportunity to receive commission payments for recruiting other people into the scheme.
The court found that the travel certificates were of little to no value and that the only way a person could earn income from their participation in the scheme was from recruiting new members.
In May 2012, the Federal Court imposed penalties on Ms Jutsen and two other individuals for their illegal participation in the pyramid selling scheme.