WA director admits investor deception

A former Western Australian company director has pleaded guilty to dishonestly using his position to misappropriate more than $1.5 million raised from investors, who were told their funds would be invested in foreign exchange trading.

Trent Bowden appeared before the Perth Magistrates Court on June 26 and pleaded guilty to three charges of dishonestly using his position as director of Trent Bowden Trading Pty Ltd to gain an advantage for himself, contrary to section 184(2)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001.

Each offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.

The charges related to conduct between 13 March 2019 and 1 November 2023, during which Bowden allegedly raised more than $1.5 million from investors after representing their money would be invested, primarily through foreign exchange trading.

Instead, prosecutors allege Bowden dishonestly use his position as director to access and spend investor funds on personal expenses, payments to other investors and other non-trading purposes.

The matter has been adjourned to the Perth District Court and is scheduled to return on 21 August 2026 for a sentence mention.

The case is one of several recent criminal prosecutions pursued by ASIC targeting the misuse of investor funds and director misconduct, as the corporate regulator continues to emphasis enforcement action against individuals who abuse positions of trust within Australian companies.