An Indigenous leader who stole more than $920,000 from Aboriginal organisations while claiming to be their advocate has been taken into custody ahead of his sentencing.
Geoff Clark - the former chairman of the disbanded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission - was expressionless as guards led him out of the Victorian County Court on Thursday.
Three separate juries convicted the 72-year-old on 25 charges of theft, obtaining financial advantage by deception, perjury and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The verdicts, from December 2023 and May 2024, can be reported after a suppression order was lifted.
Clark was found to have stolen $922,214 from Framlingham Aboriginal Trust, Kirrae Whurrong Community Incorporated, Maar Land Council and Gariwerd Enterprises between 2001 and 2015.
Clark used $404,344 to pay legal fees as he faced criminal and civil proceedings in the early 2000s over historical gang rapes and an assault.
He was ultimately convicted of obstructing police at Warrnambool's Criterion Hotel, while a civil jury found he led two pack rapes against a teenage girl in the 1970s.
A further $56,020 went to housing expenses, including rates and electricity and water bills.
Clark's barrister Simon Kenny on Thursday urged the judge not to impose a jail sentence, saying his client would find custody more onerous because of his health and age.
"Any period of incarceration is likely to represent a significant part of any time he has left because of his ill health," Mr Kenny told the court.
He submitted Clark's tireless advocacy work for Indigenous people needed to be taken into account.
"It's not as simple as saying Geoff Clark took advantage of his community," Mr Kenny said.
"The offending speaks for itself but there is much more to this picture."
Clark had not committed further crimes since he was charged in 2018 and while there was no remorse, he should not be punished for running several trials, Mr Kenny said.
Crown prosecutor Justin Lewis SC accepted Clark should not face additional punishment but said the court should focus on deterring him from committing more crimes.
"There is a real possibility that he will seek to take part in the administration of these bodies again," Mr Lewis told the court.
"He already sought to take administration of the Framlingham Aboriginal Trust on the day after one of his convictions."
Mr Lewis noted Clark had lived a double life where he helped the community but also stole from them.
The crown prosecutor submitted a jail term was the only appropriate sentence.
County Court Judge Michael O'Connell agreed, saying he would revoke Clark's bail and remand him into custody before sentence.
Clark's son Jeremy, who was also found guilty of theft and false accounting, patted his father's back as he was led out of the court.
A jury determined Jeremy Clark had stolen $231,969 from the Aboriginal organisations to help fund his father's legal fees.
He also pleaded guilty to wrongly obtaining $10,780 as a grant from the federal government.
Judge O'Connell extended Jeremy Clark's bail after accepting submissions that a jail term was not warranted.
The judge will sentence the pair at a later date.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
