Our ancestors in England could be quite unpleasant when it came to people breaking rules, although history is silent about speeding fines for mule carts.
These days we criticise the government almost with impunity. When it comes to traffic tickets we get slaps on wrists courtesy of Australia Post, although there have been a few exceptions.
Take one Marcus Richard Enfield for example. In his heyday, he was a Judge in the Australian Federal Court, the President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the UNICEF Ambassador for Children, and a few more roles besides. However, that was before he got into a spot of bother …
Enfield got a speeding fine in 2006. He could have paid $77 and moved on. Judges like to stand their ground and Marcus was no exception. He gave evidence under oath that a lady friend was driving at the time and got off. However, that was before he got into another spot of bother …
The media figured out that the lady friend had died in an American motor accident three years earlier. Undeterred, Enfield claimed he was talking about a similarly-named lady friend, who had died since the speeding incident. However, that was before he got into another spot of bother …
The coppers arrived unexpectedly and confiscated the judge’s computer. Later, they charged him with perjury, perverting the course of justice, and making and using false statutory declarations. After contesting the rest, Marcus Richard Enfield pleaded guilty to perjury.
The rest is history. Australians have a way of trampling their erstwhile heroes down. Enfield was stripped of all his titles and sent to jail for three years of which he served two. And his comment after he was released in 2011. “I don’t think I’m the slightest bit dishonest. I just made a mistake.” How the mighty have fallen. I wonder how many people he sent down himself, after they made a similar excuse.
Take care, Kane