39-514: Christopher Charles Skase (18 September 1948 – 5 August 2001) was an Australian businessman who later became one of his country's most wanted fugitives , after his business empire crashed spectacularly and he fled to Majorca , Spain. Skase was born into a wealthy Melbourne family. His father was Charles Skase, 1948 winner of the Melbourne Sun-Aria , and prominent on-air personality on radio station 3DB , including his role as star of
78-424: A " person of interest " to law enforcement. The latter term is frequently used in an " All-points bulletin " issued to other law enforcement persons or agencies. A person who has jumped bail after arraignment in court may be hunted or pursued by his bail bondsman , and a bounty may be "on his head." The act of fleeing from the jurisdiction of a court is described colloquially as "fleeing justice" or "running from
117-677: A barrel full of well-known songs. This segment evolved during his time on Triple M, resulting in three albums, with tracks including Tina Arena singing Cold Chisel 's " Cheap Wine ", The Wiggles singing AC/DC 's " It's a Long Way to the Top ", Neil Finn performing Marvin Gaye 's " Sexual Healing ", James Reyne performing Kate Bush 's " Wuthering Heights ", Barenaked Ladies performing Prince 's " When Doves Cry ", and Paul Kelly performing Prince's " Little Red Corvette ". Three volumes were released on CD titled Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge . In
156-472: A different musical style, usually the genre of the guest's own musical style. Robert Plant and Jimmy Page , musicians from Led Zeppelin, later appeared on Denton to perform a Rolf Harris song. (Harris performed a notable version of "Stairway to Heaven", with wobble board solo.) Denton saw the beginning of the Musical Challenge segment, and challenged musical guests to perform a song from
195-634: A few years off being in front of the camera and spent more time behind the scenes. In 2012, he returned to hosting duties, to ABC's game show, Randling . In 2014, Denton appeared on the SBS TV program Who Do You Think You Are? , tracing his Jewish family line to Poland. Traced also to Meir Katzenellenbogen He visited the Treblinka extermination camp and contemplated what his fate might have been had his grandfather not moved to England. In 2018, Denton hosted Interview , produced by Legacy Media for
234-588: A house together and involved in various stunts, tricks and tortures. Denton has said in radio interviews that he regrets being involved in the program due to the unacceptable level of human manipulation. Denton made his first television appearance as an extra on the ABC television series The Investigators , and progressed to being a member of the team that was runner-up on the Australian improvised comedy show Theatresports in 1987. Between 1998 and 1995 he hosted
273-443: A new business empire, and continued to live in a multimillion-dollar mansion. In one incident, television personality Andrew Denton organized a public subscription to hire a bounty hunter to kidnap Skase. However, after raising $ 250,000 the idea was called off on legal advice. In May 1998, the Australian government canceled Skase's passport. Skase was ordered to leave Majorca by 23 July, but lodged an appeal. The extradition process
312-493: A newspaper report on the origin of 'lam' which actually traces it indirectly back to Shakespeare's time. Its origin should be obvious to anyone who runs over several colloquial phrases for leavetaking, such as 'beat it' and 'hit the trail'. The allusion in 'lam' is to 'beat,' and 'beat it' is Old English, meaning 'to leave.' During the period of George Ade's 'Fables in Slang' (1900), cabaret society delight in talking slang, and 'lam'
351-653: A night in jail. However, he was subsequently released and allowed to regain his passport. He promptly fled the country. His discovery on the Spanish island of Majorca in 1991 by the Sydney Morning Herald sparked intense media interest. In 1994, the Australian Securities Commission assembled a case against Skase, with the assistance of former Skase associate Lawrence Van der Plaat, and began to chase him in earnest. Throughout
390-526: A son. Byrne and Denton separated for six months in 1997. He is a supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs . Denton is also an atheist . In 2017, Denton was diagnosed with advanced heart disease, and he underwent a successful triple bypass surgery. The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of
429-434: A trial is underway loses the right to appeal any convictions or sentences imposed on him, since the act of fleeing is deemed to flout the court's authority. In 2003, convicted rapist Andrew Luster had his appeals denied on the basis that he spent six months as a fugitive (he was convicted in absentia ). While a person is being sought for potential arrest, the person may be described variously as being "at large" or as
SECTION 10
#1732783607587468-424: A wanted person, can be a person who is either convicted or accused of a crime and hiding from law enforcement in the state or taking refuge in a different country in order to avoid arrest. A fugitive from justice alternatively has been defined as a person formally charged with a crime or a convicted criminal whose punishment has not yet been determined or fully served who is currently beyond the custody or control of
507-479: Is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie –nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope and the ABC game show Randling . He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique. He is also responsible for introducing the troupe of The Chaser to Australian audiences. Denton is the son of Kit Denton , writer and
546-596: Is based on an invented plot to kidnap Christopher Skase in Majorca. TISM bassist Jock Cheese's solo album Platter features the song "Totally Addicted to Skase", whose title parodies " Addicted to Bass ", about the media coverage of the chase for Skase. Fugitive A fugitive or runaway is a person who is fleeing from custody , whether it be from jail , a government arrest , government or non-government questioning , vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals. A fugitive from justice , also known as
585-559: Is ‘international’ (versus ‘domestic’) if wanted by law enforcement authorities across a national border. Interpol is the international organization with no legal authority to directly pursue or detain fugitives of any kind. Europol is the European authority for the pursuit of fugitives who are on the run within Europe, and coordinates their search, while national authorities in the probable country of their stay coordinate their arrest. In
624-558: The United States , the U.S. Marshals Service is the primary law enforcement agency that tracks down federal fugitives, though the Federal Bureau of Investigation also tracks fugitives. As a verbal metaphor and psychological concept, one might also be described as a "fugitive from oneself". The literary sense of "fugitive" includes the meaning of simply "fleeing". In many jurisdictions, a fugitive who flees custody while
663-437: The 1990s, successive Australian governments, in combination with Max Donnelly, attempted to have Skase extradited from Spain, with no success. Skase claimed that he was unable to travel due to a life-threatening lung condition. This was disputed by the Australian government, who released a video filmed by some Australian tourists, which featured Skase walking easily on a local beach. During this period, Skase also attempted to build
702-418: The Australian film Let's Get Skase . In 2003, Denton began hosting Enough Rope with Andrew Denton . He was executive producer and script editor for ABC's The Election Chaser and CNNNN . In an audience development survey in 2004, respondents named Denton as one of the "most liked and recognisable" personalities on Australian television. Enough Rope ended in late 2008. Also in 2003, Denton provided
741-630: The Australian government and Donnelly were starting to grow weary of the large costs of continuing the chase for Skase with $ 3 million having been spent. Nevertheless, there was renewed speculation in January that Skase would soon be deported from Spain – in which case it would have been legally possible to bring him back to Australia, with which Dominica had an extradition treaty. However, he became ill and died of stomach cancer in Majorca on 5 August 2001, before any further proceedings had taken place. A satirical 2001 film, Let's Get Skase ,
780-522: The Law." A " wanted poster " may be issued, especially by the FBI, culminating in the " FBI's Most Wanted List " of fugitives. "On the lam" or "on the run" often refers to fugitives. Mencken 's The American Language and The Thesaurus of American Slang proclaim that lam, lamister, and "on the lam"—all referring to a hasty departure—were common in thieves' slang before the turn of the 20th century. Mencken quotes
819-720: The Seven Network. Denton's first feature-length documentary, God on My Side , documents his visit to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. It was first shown at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2006 with plans to show it as a TV special on ABC's Enough Rope . It was screened in Australian cinemas from 2 November 2006. Denton insists he is not anti-Christian. In 2011, Denton served as executive producer on
SECTION 20
#1732783607587858-529: The TV shows Blah Blah Blah (1988), The Money or the Gun (1989–1990), Live and Sweaty (1991–1995), all on ABC-TV, as well as a comedy talk show, Denton (1994–1995), which aired on Seven Network . These shows were talk-based. Live and Sweaty focused on sports and was panel-based. Each week on The Money or the Gun , Denton had a musical guest play a cover version of Led Zeppelin 's " Stairway to Heaven " in
897-580: The U.S. Government determined that Timothy McVeigh had perpetrated the Oklahoma City Bombing , he was found in a local jail. Other methods include using anonymous tips from members of the public who may have seen sight of the fugitive; CCTV and other modes of technology; news broadcasting of public awareness (depending on the severity of the crime the fugitive has committed), and co-operation with local law enforcement teams. Andrew Denton Andrew Christopher Denton (born 4 May 1960)
936-663: The author of the novel The Breaker , about Australian soldier Breaker Morant . He went to Roseville Primary School in Sydney, before attending Blue Mountains Grammar School in Wentworth Falls . In 1977 he attended Guildford Grammar School in Perth . He then studied at Mitchell College of Advanced Education (MCAE) (now Charles Sturt University ) in Bathurst, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications in 1982. He
975-568: The company at the same time he announced that he was quitting television. Denton accompanied Tony Horwitz on portions of his research for the book Spying on the South , and is a character in the narrative. In 2022 Tasmanian band 208L Containers released an album, A Night at the Mirage , which they described as "a concept album about Andrew Denton and Christopher Skase". Denton lives in Sydney. He and his wife, TV presenter Jennifer Byrne , have
1014-577: The crowd-funded horror film The Tunnel . The film was directed by Carlo Ledesma, co-written, co-produced and co-edited by Julian Harvey and Enzo Tedeschi , and produced with Denton's production company Zapruder's Other Films. Denton appeared as Malcolm Turnbull in the Belvoir Street Theatre production of A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy , written by John Clarke and Ross Stevenson , and participated in
1053-567: The directors reported the incident to the Australian Securities Commission . The creditors moved in, and Qintex collapsed. Skase was forced to sell the Seven Network for a tiny portion of what he had paid for it. In the end, Skase was more than $ 700 million in debt. He began to parcel up his remaining wealth, including more than $ 900,000 worth of antiques and furniture. He was charged with improperly using his position to obtain management fees, briefly arrested and spent
1092-529: The early 1990s, Denton was the first guest programmer on Rage . Denton appeared as a contestant on the Nine Network 's Sale of the Century . While presenting his talk show Denton , he launched a public subscription scheme to hire a bounty hunter to capture fugitive businessman Christopher Skase , who was attempting to avoid extradition to Australia at the time. He had a cameo appearance in
1131-432: The early years of the ABC's World Series Debating . Zapruder's Other Films is a production company founded in 1989 by Denton, Anita Jacoby, and Peter Thompson. The company was named for Abraham Zapruder , the man who filmed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy . Works produced by the company include: In early 2012, Zapruder merged with Cordell Jigsaw to form CJZ and, in June 2013, Denton sold his share of
1170-450: The international tourist map. Skase became known for his displays of wealth, with a lavish 40th birthday party in 1988, and a company Christmas party that cost $ 450,000. In one particular incident, he had his private jet fly from Port Douglas to Melbourne to pick up a dress for his wife, Pixie. By 1989, interest rates had risen, an attempt to buy the MGM film studios fell through, and Skase
1209-728: The late 1980s, the Qintex group was worth A$ 1.5 billion. Skase owned five resorts as well as interests in the Seven television network and the Brisbane Bears football club. On the eve of the 1990 economic recession, his two Mirage resorts in Queensland were among the largest in the country and one of them, the Mirage Port Douglas Resort , played a key role in putting the formerly small town of Port Douglas on
Christopher Skase - Misplaced Pages Continue
1248-424: The live-to-air program, The Happy Gang , in the 1950s. Skase was educated at Malvern and Caulfield Grammar Schools . Skase began his career as a stockbroker , but soon became a finance journalist instead, working at The Sun News-Pictorial . In 1975 he purchased Qintex , a small Tasmanian company. Skase slowly developed Qintex and, over several years, turned it into one of Australia's larger corporations. By
1287-514: The missing money. At a meeting in October, Skase began to fall out with the Qintex board. He demanded that the board pay $ 13.5 million to a private company that he owned. The board refused to ratify the payment, but soon discovered that the payment had already been made. Skase then demanded the board give him a pay rise, and threatened to resign if he did not receive it. The board refused, with several members themselves threatening to resign. One of
1326-481: The narration for the ABC TV animated documentary series Human Contraptions . Asked about the best skill an interviewer can bring to the job, Denton said: "Research, clearly. Listening, obviously. And leaving myself open to the possibility it won't go the way I expect." In 2009, Denton hosted the second season of Elders , a series of interviews with ageing notable Australians. After this series finished, Denton took
1365-503: The national or sub-national government or international criminal tribunal with an interest in their arrest. This latter definition adopts the perspective of the pursuing government or tribunal, recognizing that the charged (versus escaped) individual does not necessarily realize that they are officially a wanted person (e.g., due to a case of mistaken identity or reliance on a sealed indictment), and therefore may not be fleeing, hiding, or taking refuge to avoid arrest. The fugitive from justice
1404-816: Was current. Like many other terms, it went under in the flood of new usages of those days, but was preserved in criminal slang. A quarter of a century later it reappeared. Mencken also quotes a story from the New York Herald Tribune newspaper in 1938 which reported that "one of the oldest police officers in New York said that he had heard 'on the lam' thirty years ago." Various methods can be used to find fugitives. Phone taps and pen registers can be used on relatives. Credit card and cell phone activities and electronic transfer of money can also be traced. Wanted posters and rewards can also be used. Jail records are also sometimes used; for instance, after
1443-476: Was forced to sell half of his resorts to Japanese investors. In the months that followed, it became clear that Skase and the Qintex group had overextended themselves. According to a 1998 report by ABC program Four Corners , Skase had begun obtaining and moving money into foreign bank accounts in July 1989. Despite efforts lasting more than a decade, Max Donnelly, the creditors' trustee, was unable to trace much of
1482-643: Was involved in the campus radio station, 2MCE . Denton worked on Australian radio stations early in his media career, beginning as a writer for radio presenter Doug Mulray on Triple M Sydney . He had an early involvement in the Sydney Theatresports movement. Denton worked as a morning radio host for the Triple M in Sydney. His time on Triple M included the House From Hell reality TV program, in which various contestants were placed in
1521-547: Was still tied up in the courts when, the following month, he became a citizen of Dominica . At this point, numerous commentators suggested that the chase was over, and that there was nothing more that could be done to bring Skase back to Australia. Skase was married to Pixie Skase. She remained in exile in Dominica until returning to Melbourne in 2008. Pixie Skase died in Melbourne on 15 November 2024, aged 83. By 2001, both
#586413