Adjudication No. 1223 (December 2003)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint by Peter Foster that a description of him as a "fraudster", published by The Sydney Morning Herald on 22 August, was untrue.

The article concerned a London interview with Cherie Booth QC, wife of the British Prime Minister, and mentions her associations with Carol Caplin. Mr Foster was described as an ex-boyfriend of Ms Caplin and a "convicted Gold Coast fraudster".

In support of his complaint Mr Foster has provided legal advice which quotes the Macquarie Dictionary definition of fraud as: "deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, by which it is sought to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage".

Mr Foster himself provided details of his convictions dating back to 1982, which resulted in four separate periods of imprisonment and a substantial fine.

Mr Foster has obtained international recognition for this series of offences, most of which involve false claims.

While none of Mr Foster's convictions are explicitly for "fraud", the Council believes that the word "fraudster" has been used by the newspaper in an accurate, collective sense.

Accordingly the complaint is dismissed.

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