Former Bega Cheese boss Maurice Van Ryn is currently serving a 13-year prison sentence for 17 child sex offences committed over a 12-year period.
Van Ryn pleaded guilty to the abuse of nine boys and girls in the Bega Valley.
The Daily Telegraph reports Van Ryn is now threatening victims from prison by saying he’d “force them to be medically examined and quizzed in the witness box if they pursued him for compensation” in a letter given to them by his solicitors.
Van Ryn’s victims were the sons and daughters of family friends. The families have refused his settlement offer and, in turn, Van Ryn has refused to take part in court-ordered mediation which would’ve spared victims a long and emotional court case involving potentially traumatic cross-examination.
The case is due to begin in the District Court next month.
The Daily Telegraph also reports he’s pretending to be broke, when in reality, “his former shareholdings and assets would today be worth more than $9 million”.
Last year, Van Ryn had two months shaved off his sentence on appeal. A spokesman for the families said at the time he “should never be released from jail.”
More as we get it.
