Issue Date:  -  Monday, 3 July 2006

Suspended jail sentence for model promoter

Model promoter Katharina Isobell Holz of Hemingway Drive Westfield, was today sentenced in the Supreme Court to a term of imprisonment suspended for twelve months and community service for contempt of court.

This follows a previous court finding that Mrs. Holz had deliberately defied an undertaking given to the Court to not represent herself as a photographic model consultant and having overseas modelling affiliations.

Mrs. Holz was sentenced to twenty eight days jail suspended for twelve months on condition that she abide by interim injunction orders and complete sixty hours of community service within a four month period.

Outside court, Consumer Protection’s lawyer said that the judge had made it clear that the matter was very serious and struck at the heart of the legal system. If Mrs Holz re-offends or does not complete the community service work, she would almost certainly go to jail. 

“The Courts consider contempt to be very serious and in this case the judge did not consider a fine was appropriate in light of Mrs. Holz’s track record of not paying them,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

“In terms of sentences meted out by the Supreme Court for incidents of contempt, the one imposed today on Mrs. Holz is substantial’, Mr. Walker said.

Mrs. Holz says that she is no longer in the photographic modelling industry. We would encourage young consumers and their parents to remain on the alert and report any approaches to Consumer Protection on telephone number 1300 30 40 54 or email consumer@docep.wa.gov.au .

Media Contact:
Mike Winchester (Dip PR WA AIMM)
Principal Media Liaison Officer
Consumer Protection Division
Dept of Consumer & Employment Protection
Western Australia

L7, 219 St Georges Tce, Perth WA 6000
Locked Bag 14 Cloisters Square, Perth WA 6850

(08) 9282 0961
(08) 9282 0857
0409 118 982
mwinchester@docep.wa.gov.au
www.docep.wa.gov.au