Former adviser charged with dishonest conduct - 2021

Ezzat-Daniel Nesseim, who previously ran financial services business Smart Financial Strategies licensed under Libertas Financial Planning, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on 2 March to face 16 charges.

ASIC's case against Mr Nesseim alleges he provided three wholesale client certificates to the regulator as part of an investigation, which were backdated in the hope they would be accepted as genuine and cause ASIC to cease its inquiries into his dealings.

"In response to questions raised regarding these certificates, [he] gave false answers and information to ASIC under oath and affirmed that a written statement provided to ASIC was true, when it contained statements Mr Nesseim knew to be false," the regulator said.

ASIC also alleges during a hearing around Mr Nesseim's banning, he made use of fabricated evidence including doctored emails and "purported witness statements" and gave false information under oath.

Mr Nesseim was banned from providing financial services in March 2018. However, he is still the general manager of Accord Partners, which is listed as a "financial concierge and management service", according to ASIC.