Woman admits to fraud; spent $56 Million on Chanel, Armani and Michael Jackson memorabilia
Talk about audacity. A woman has admitted to defrauding financial group ING out of over $56 million, in what’s being called the largest embezzlement fraud case by a single individual in Australia’s history.
Rajina Rita Subramaniam, 41, siphoned $56 million (in U.S. currency) from ING coffers, which she deposited into private accounts to fund her extravagant lifestyle. The former senior accountant for ING is accused of spending millions of dollars on cars, homes, jewelry, high end clothing, shoes, bags, exotic trips and Michael Jackson memorabilia.
When she was arrested, police recovered a haul of expensive merchandise purchased by Subramaniam, including 600 pieces of jewelry from exclusive lines such as Bulgari, Tag Heuer and Tiffany & Co.; 200 Chanel products including clothing, perfume and makeup, tailored clothing by Hugo Boss and Armani, Mont Blanc stationary and a $600 bottle of Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon champagne.
She allegedly spent more than $16 million on jewelry purchases at Paspaley Pearls jewelry store alone.
ING Group is a global asset management organization with over 54 billion in reported revenue in 2010.
Subramaniam’s 20-year web of deceit unraveled in 2009 when suspicious high end retailers complained to ING about Ms. Subramaniam’s extravagant million-dollar purchases.
Barnes & Noble wants this man to keep his shirt on
Two major U.S. book retailers have issued directives to their stores to wrap the covers of this month’s Dossier magazine in opaque plastic. The retailers fear that the cover photo of 19-year-old, half naked male model Andre Pejic, with his bird chest and 2-pack abs, will offend housewives who might think he’s a 12-year-old girl.
Although there are other magazines on the shelves featuring shirtless men in all manner of undress, Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores believe that this particular magazine cover will offend because “the model is young and [he] could be deemed as a naked female.”
Dossier co-founder and creative director Skye Parrott was shocked at the retailers’ directive to forfeit the magazine orders or agree to be censored.
She told Jezebel.com: “We knew that this cover presented a very strong, androgynous image, and that could make some people uncomfortable. That’s partly why we chose it. I guess it has made someone pretty uncomfortable.”
She added: “What message are the big bookstore chains sending — that the male torso is only appropriate all-ages viewing when the man in question is ripped?”
Male model Pejic, who was discovered in his native Australia flipping burgers at Burger King, says his androgynous looks makes him feel more female than male sometimes.
“I’m sure most people think of me as a woman. It doesn’t bother me anymore and I feel fine about it… I don’t consider my looks unusual.”
Businesswoman: Simone Smith Launches Jewelry Line
Jewelry designer Simone I. Smith, wife of rapper-turned-actor LL Cool J, launched her new jewelry line, Simone I. Smith, at Bloomingdale’s in Century City, CA yesterday. Normally I would have added “long suffering” to her name, but Simone wasn’t thinking about LL and his cheating ways. Some would say she has low self esteem, but Simone was busy stacking her chips and raising the couple’s three children until she could realize her dream of owning her own business. LL saw that she was a strong and independent woman, and he couldn’t do anything but respect her.
Actress Nicole Ari Parker, designer Simone I. Smith and singer Kelly Rowland attended Simone’s jewelry launch yesterday.
Singer Kelly Rowland, socialite Kim Porter and actress Angela Bassett attend Simone’s jewelry launch yesterday.
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Celeb Style: Fabolous and Amar’e Stoudemire
Rapper Fabolous, left, and NBA Knicks player Amar’e Stoudemire watched Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat at The Ainsworth in NYC last night. In addition to their love of the game, the two men share a passion for high end timepieces.
In an earlier post I told you that if you want to catch a man with long money, you can start by familiarizing yourself with the things they like, such as knowing the make of expensive wristwatches they wear.
Men like Fabolous and Amar’e probably won’t be impressed with your knowledge of costly wristwatches (since they most likely got a five finger discount), but trust me, the real money men will be very impressed.
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Put ‘Em On Blast: Tameka Foster
The manager of Tameka Foster’s Estella Boutique, has just tendered her resignation to Ms. Foster-Raymond. As you know, Foster-Raymond is the baby mama of R&B crooner Usher’s two sons.
In an email sent to industry tastemakers and published on Zeralyn.com, makeup artist Rebecca Bussert (pictured above) writes “I won’t work for a disrespectful, conceited person.”
In her bio posted on her facebook page, Bussert writes: “I value intelligence and integrity in others; I don’t care for flippant, ignorant pigs.” There is no doubt to whom she is referring.
Bussert, who is Caucasian, wrote that Foster-Raymond’s racist attitude and poor management skills is what drove off her prospective clients and employees.
I have observed some ridiculous things during my time working for you, Ms. Foster-Raymond, and I am glad to say that I will no longer work for such a farce as you. I have seen you ridicule potential workers such as Mr. Phil Plunkett, who gave you an estimate for shoe cabinets. After you lauded his work and said that this job would be beneath him, yet you called him to come in and do an estimate, you said that his estimate was way too expensive, and that you could probably ask “the Mexicans down the street” to do the job.
Before applying for the job, Ms. Bussert did her research on Foster’s troubled background and decided to take her chances and work for her anyway:
I have worked for you for just over a month, and after the first couple of days, I can see that the research I did before getting hired gave me ample warning about your character. I only wish I had heeded that research. That fact aside, I can also see that you have no idea how to operate a business or take ownership in it.
In her rather lengthy email, Bussert complained that Foster-Raymond was “an extremely disrespectful, rude, careless individual” to work for. Bussert wrote that Foster-Raymond made unrealistic demands on her time without ever clearly defining her job duties.
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Tiny Slashes Prices at Her Nail Salon This Weekend
Former Xscape member Tameka “Tiny” Cottle is preparing to see her hubby, T.I. again this weekend. Tiny visits her man every other Sunday and Monday at the Forrest City Correctional facility in Kansas where he’s serving time for a probation violation.
If you recall, an incident of an intimate nature occurred during Tiny’s last visit to her husband at the Forrest City prison Correctional facility in Kansas.
According to Tiny, T.I., 30, was reprimanded and his liberal access to the prison phones and email were cut off. Tiny didn’t know when she would be allowed to visit him again before his release date sometime in August or September. But luckily, the prison didn’t ban her from visiting T.I.
Yesterday she tweeted this on her Twitter page: “One of my steps of getting ready to see my man is changing my hair color. I’m always trying to do the impossible! So creative it is. #faith”
According to an inside source, Tiny, who was hospitalized recently, is planning a big Mardi Gras style event this weekend at her nail salon, Tiny’s Nail Bar at 3540 Walt Stephens Road in Stockbridge. Business is good so Tiny wants to thank her many faithful fans and Twitter followers by slashing prices for nail designs! If you mention Tiny’s Twitter page, you get 2 free designs with your pedicure!
If you don’t have anything planned this weekend you should stop by.
Usher’s Attorney Mark Geragos Wants You To Know That…
According to celebrity blogger Michelle over at Straight From The A blog, if you even think about purchasing that sex tape featuring Tameka Foster (allegedly) slamming her ex-husband Usher’s back out — you will face ramifications and repercussions.
Usher’s attorney, the esteemed Mark Geragos, has sent out a new round of emails containing language meant to scare the living hail out of those bloggers who scare easily.
This new email (and all the legal hoopla that preceded it) all but confirms the existence of said sex tape. Usher must really be scared of what’s on this sex tape. If the rumors are true, he wouldn’t be the first male celebrity who likes to be mounted and rode into the sunset by his woman.
Read on…
Photos: Splash News Online
