More gaol for Empire Systems director

In Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, Roussi pleaded guilty to being involved in the management of Empire between 9 June 1994 and 1 April 1998, when he was a bankrupt.

Magistrate Emmett ordered Roussi to serve seven and a half months via weekend detention of a ten month sentence.

He will begin his sentence on 12 September 2004, following the completion of the two-year term of periodic detention he was sentenced to on 6 September this year after being convicted on two charges of having improperly used his position as an officer of Empire Systems to gain an advantage of $990,923 for his wife.

This followed a two-week trial in June 2002 before Judge Blackmore, where the jury heard details of Roussi's involvement with Empire Systems, a computer retail operation that went into liquidation in 1998 owing around $3.5 million to 1500 creditors - mainly customers.

The charges against Roussi were laid after an investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.