No Jail for Tandy

[batboy]

<big>**Tandy avoids jail over betting scandal**</big>
11:46 AEDT Fri Jan 13 2012

Former rugby league player Ryan Tandy has avoided jail after he was found guilty of lying to the Crime Commission about the NRL betting scandal.

Magistrate Clare Farnan sentenced Tandy in Sydney's Downing Centre Local court on Friday to a six month jail sentence by way of an Intensive Correction Order (ICO).

It is a sentence option that can include community service, strict supervision and possible curfews, depending on the conditions imposed by the court.

The ex-NRL player, 30, was found guilty of giving false evidence in January 2011 to the NSW Crime Commission about his betting activities with jockey manager John Schell.

The offence carried a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

Magistrate Farnan ordered Tandy's sentence to start on January 20.

Tandy was acquitted of two other charges relating to evidence he gave the Crime Commission in its investigation of match-fixing.

The court previously heard Tandy placed a number of bets with a professional punter named Damien Flower through Mr Schell during a two-week period in 2010.

Questioned by the Crime Commission about when he had last used a bookmaker or "any other person who was gambling", Tandy replied he couldn't give a time because "it was years ago".

In October, Tandy was found guilty of match-fixing and was fined $4000 and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond for interfering with the outcome of a game between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys in August 2010.

He is appealing the decision.

Tandy's lawyer Tony Bellanto, QC, on Friday requested that a bond or a suspended jail sentence be considered when sentencing the former player.

He referred to a Corrective Services NSW report which found Tandy had no prior record, was unlikely to reoffend and had good prospects of rehabilitation.

Tandy's career had probably been "irretrievably curtailed" by the case outcomes, he added.

"In terms of punishment, what has happened to him in this matter has been catastrophic," Mr Bellanto said.

Magistrate Farnan accepted Tandy's career had likely been destroyed and that he was unlikely to reoffend.

But she was not persuaded imposing a fine or a suspended jail sentence would be sufficient in acting as a general deterrent to the public.

She warned Tandy he could be imprisoned immediately if he failed to comply with the conditions of the ICO, which are not yet known.

Tandy declined to comment to media outside court

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8402516/tandy-avoids-jail-over-betting-scandal

 

[happy_tiger]

He should of done jail time to warn every single NRL player that this won't be tolerated into the future

No doubt some overseas club will pick him , but his NRL career is definitely gone

 

[steve-o]

cant believe he didnt get jail time. courts have gone soft

 

[Yossarian]

He should of done jail time to warn every single NRL player that this won't be tolerated into the future

No doubt some overseas club will pick him , but his NRL career is definitely gone

A criminal conviction shuts a lot of doors Happy. He'd be lucky to score a captain-coach deal in the bush after this.

I think the fact his career is over is a pretty strong deterrent.

 

[Yossarian]

cant believe he didnt get jail time. courts have gone soft

This particular matter related solely to him giving one misleading answer at a NSWCC hearing. Gaol time should have been a consideration at the earlier trial. On its own, it is hardly crime of the century (the misleading evidence charge).

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Gaol for this matter is a little harsh. Should have copped another fine maybe.

Should have got gaol time for the actual match fixing though.

 

[steve-o]

cant believe he didnt get jail time. courts have gone soft

This particular matter related solely to him giving one misleading answer at a NSWCC hearing. Gaol time should have been a consideration at the earlier trial. On its own, it is hardly crime of the century (the misleading evidence charge).

ah yeah sorry, as CB said, i was thinking he shouldve got jail time for the actual match fixing. still, the whole point of these commissions is to punish people for lying. shouldve got a hefty fine on top of the 6 month ICO

 

[westTAHger]

why not give him a life time ban from competing in/being involved/attending in anything to do with any type of sport.
remove his name from any records, eg tries scored, tackles made.
do not give him any acknowledgement at all.
this may appear harsh, but he is the one who was found guilty of match fixing. :brick:
.
usually I am an easy going person.
this issue makes my blood boil.

 

[Yossarian]

cant believe he didnt get jail time. courts have gone soft

This particular matter related solely to him giving one misleading answer at a NSWCC hearing. Gaol time should have been a consideration at the earlier trial. On its own, it is hardly crime of the century (the misleading evidence charge).

ah yeah sorry, as CB said, i was thinking he shouldve got jail time for the actual match fixing. still, the whole point of these commissions is to punish people for lying. shouldve got a hefty fine on top of the 6 month ICO

Totally agree on the last part. Courts have taken a pretty dim view in the past of people who told porkies (or refused to answer) down at the ACC. Not sure what the track record is for the NSWCC. I guess as lies as go it was a fairly minor one and didn't have a detrimental impact on the investigation (i.e. they KNEW he was telling lies and just charged him to prove a point).

 

[Demps]

what a low life.
everyone should be treated equally, sport star or mcdonalds employee.

 

[Demonborger]

Jailing him would've been a waste of money.

A damage reputation is a incredibly hard thing to repair

 

[Guest]

Jailing him would've been a waste of money.

A damage reputation is a incredibly hard thing to repair

A waste of money yes, but still a disappointing sentence IMO. Witnesses called before the Crime Commission are compelled to tell the truth. Tandy didn't, and I would have jailed him for that. Harsh maybe, but make no mistake, Tandy would have been aware what the penalty is if found guilty of lying before the CC.

 

[Yossarian]

Jailing him would've been a waste of money.

A damage reputation is a incredibly hard thing to repair

A waste of money yes, but still a disappointing sentence IMO. Witnesses called before the Crime Commission are compelled to tell the truth. Tandy didn't, and I would have jailed him for that. Harsh maybe, but make no mistake, Tandy would have been aware what the penalty is if found guilty of lying before the CC.

It would have been on his summons and I'm sure it would have cropped up during the examination itself.

 

[happy_tiger]

Now the NRL has to do its job and ban him for life

Take away the temptation of the clubs even thinking about resigning him

 

[Yossarian]

Now the NRL has to do its job and ban him for life

Take away the temptation of the clubs even thinking about resigning him

I'm sure that will happen but I doubt even Manly would touch him with a barge pole. The guy is persona non grata so far as top level league is concerned. He should count himself lucky if he gets a run for a bush team on small change.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Now the NRL has to do its job and ban him for life

Take away the temptation of the clubs even thinking about resigning him

Agreed, but I don't think any club will even consider signing him, especially because of his ability. Even if he was Andrew Johns there wouldn't be a club that would consider it, even if he wasn't found guilty of the fix, even the most gullible, naive moron could see what happened there.

 

[Goose]

The only reason they have to bother banning him is for precedent, no one will be interested in Tandy.

That said if it was a superstar, Joey, Locky or Thurston, I think there would be clubs that would convince themselves morally that it was ok to sign them. "everyone deserves a second chance" and alike.