FRESH allegations have emerged against a country music singer accused of swindling thousands of dollars from a local cancer charity fundraiser.
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Tamworth Police have launched an investigation into claims Stephen “Bunzie” Bunz failed to repay about $5500 raised at September's Nev Parnell Appreciation Concert for the North West Cancer Clinic.
After hearing of the alleged rip-off, a New Zealand saddlery owner contacted The Leader yesterday to claim Mr Bunz had cost her business thousands of dollars earlier this year.
Abby Fenemor, co-owner of Matamata Saddlery, said Mr Bunz in March purchased close to $10,000 worth of horse rugs and still owed thousands of dollars to the company.
“Every time we called there was a different excuse – once he was in hospital with pneumonia, and the next time he had bleeding on the brain,” Ms Fenemor said.
“The only way we got any of the money back was when we threatened to put him into liquidation.
“But ... I’m just appalled he hasn’t paid money back for a cancer clinic.”
Mr Bunz, a racehorse owner with ties to disgraced New Zealand trainer Paul Harris, is a director of two companies in New Zealand.
Now residing in Brisbane, Mr Bunz landed in Tamworth in the early ’80s, after winning a trip to the festival when he won the 1981 New Zealand Country Music Entertainer of the Year.
An accomplished vocalist and performer, Mr Bunz also worked for a period as the entertainment manager at the Tamworth Workmen’s Club.
But it was his efforts in organising a fundraising concert at Wests for local country music stalwart Nev Parnell, who is battling inoperable bowel cancer, that won him recent applause.
More than seven weeks on from the concert, however, Mr Bunz has made just two payments into the Wests Entertainment Group’s account – $538 and $401.
He claimed the delay in making full payment was due to him being the victim of bank account fraud.
“I have businesses in New Zealand. I have deposited the money into my New Zealand accounts for the payment to be made four times, but the money has been swept each time,” Mr Bunz said.
“New Zealand police are looking into that and someone is being charged. This person had access to my accounts and passwords and they swept the money.
“I realise I’m personally responsible and I look like an idiot, but I will pay the money back by Friday.
“I’ve done more charity gigs than you could poke a stick at over the years and I’ve never ripped off anyone in Tamworth.”
He described Matamata Saddlery as a trade creditor and when asked why he had not paid the business, he said: “The bottom line is they’re about to be served legal letters for defamation.”
But for the family of Nev Parnell, Mr Bunz’s excuses simply don’t wash.
“If his intention was just to take the money from the concert and run, then I’m disgusted,” Nev’s son, Matt Parnell, said.
“This is really embarrassing and upsetting for mum and dad and anyone else involved in the fundraiser.
“It’s left a sour taste in all our mouths.”