Rural & General Insurance Brokers founder and MD Charles Pratten is awaiting sentencing after having been found guilty of seven counts of dishonestly obtaining by deception a financial advantage from the Commonwealth.

In the NSW Supreme Court last week, Mr Pratten’s sentencing hearing was adjourned following the termination of his trial lawyer’s retainer from Legal Aid, with his new solicitor – who will also be applying for Legal Aid funding – arguing he had not had enough time to prepare for the hearing.

Lawyers from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office opposed the adjournment, arguing that Mr Pratten had around six weeks to prepare his case for sentencing, which involves obtaining a psychological assessment and other expert evidence.

But Justice Stephen Rothman, who is hearing the case, ruled that as the DPP is seeking a “substantial custodial sentence” it is important that Mr Pratten should have time to adequately prepare for sentencing.

He re-scheduled the sentencing hearing to September 10.

Since being found guilty, Mr Pratten has remained free on bail in order to prepare for the sentencing hearing, with a requirement that he report to police twice a day.

The DPP unsuccessfully argued that his failure to prepare for the hearing should result in his bail being revoked, while an application by the defence to have Mr Pratten’s bail conditions varied to allow him to report to police only once a day was also denied.

The defence claimed the twice-daily reporting conditions are onerous on Mr Pratten, who runs a cattle farm at Raymond Terrace, near Newcastle, which requires “constant maintenance”.

Mr Pratten was arrested following the Project Wickenby investigation into international tax evasion schemes. He was accused of misappropriating funds between 2003 and 2009 by sending millions of dollars to Vanuatu from his Sydney-based brokerage.