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A prominent Sydney lawyer has faced a Sydney court after being charged with allegedly stealing nearly $15 million from clients to fund a gambling addiction.
A Sydney lawyer has faced Sydney’s Local Court after being charged with allegedly stealing nearly $15 million from clients at a Bondi Junction law firm to fuel his gambling addiction.
Benjamin Paul Reid appeared before Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court today (12 March) to face four counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, charges brought by the NSW Police Financial Crimes Squad two weeks ago.
Presiding over the court, Magistrate C Farnan described the charges against Reid as “very serious” and emphasised that the court is handling the matter with the utmost care and diligence.
The charges come after the NSW Police Financial Crimes Squad began investigating the 45-year-old lawyer in September 2025 under Strike Force Salbrook, following a referral from the NSW Law Society.
In June 2025, the society’s council suspended Reid from practising law, noting that his “dishonest conduct is antithetical to the position of trust and confidence that legal practitioners are placed in”.
Over the course of the investigation, Strike Force detectives allegedly discovered that between April 2023 and February 2025, Reid accessed several business and trust accounts and transferred client funds totalling $14.8 million into accounts under his control to fund online gambling.
Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja from the Financial Crimes Squad alleged that Reid placed at least 30 bets a day, each ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, across four separate betting sites, according to the ABC.
The Sydney lawyer was arrested around 10am on Thursday, 26 February 2026, when Strike Force detectives took him into custody at Maroubra Police Station.
Reid was granted bail under strict conditions prohibiting him from working in any position that involves financial responsibilities and from participating in any gambling activities.
Reid is set to return to court in early May to face further proceedings.
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