Acclaimed chef pleads guilty to money laundering
Acclaimed Canberra chef and former owner of Courgette Restaurant, James Mussillon, has pleaded guilty to perjury and money laundering in the ACT Magistrates Court.
50-year-old Mussillon ran Canberra's award-winning Courgette Restaurant until his arrest last year.
$1 million in cash and assets were seized leading to the arrest of Mussillon and his co-accused Mohammed Al-Mofathel, after police raided the city restaurant, and two homes in Bonner and Holt.
Among the items seized were three cars including a Lamborghini.
Mr Al-Mofathel, 29, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of trafficking cannabis, perjury, money laundering and perverting the course of justice.
Mussillon was first charged with 14 offences, which have now been reduced to five, with several charges dropped completely.
Prosecutors are currently finalising agreed facts in the case.
Mussillon is currently bail and is expected to be back in the ACT Supreme Court next month for sentencing.
Irit Jackson, 28th March 2022
