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Australian Madoff doll 'a smash' | Australian Madoff doll 'a smash' |
(1 day later) | |
An Australian toy designer has created a surprise hit with a doll of the US financier, Bernard Madoff, who is accused of a $50bn (£35bn) fraud. | An Australian toy designer has created a surprise hit with a doll of the US financier, Bernard Madoff, who is accused of a $50bn (£35bn) fraud. |
The Smash-Me Bernie figurine wears a devil's red suit, carries a trident and comes with a golden hammer for smashing the doll into pieces. | |
Creator Graeme Warring said he came up with the idea after a friend of his lost money in the scandal. | Creator Graeme Warring said he came up with the idea after a friend of his lost money in the scandal. |
Mr Madoff's former clients may not feel like meeting the $100 price tag. | Mr Madoff's former clients may not feel like meeting the $100 price tag. |
Smash-me Bernie attracted worldwide media interest when it went on display at the New York Toy Fair this week, says the doll's creator. | Smash-me Bernie attracted worldwide media interest when it went on display at the New York Toy Fair this week, says the doll's creator. |
'Terrifically funny' | 'Terrifically funny' |
Mr Warring, who now lives in the US, told ABC news how he'd invented the figurine to try to console his out-of-pocket friend. | Mr Warring, who now lives in the US, told ABC news how he'd invented the figurine to try to console his out-of-pocket friend. |
"He lost quite a bit of money and he was pretty grumpy about the whole thing," Mr Warring was quoted as saying. | "He lost quite a bit of money and he was pretty grumpy about the whole thing," Mr Warring was quoted as saying. |
US financier Bernard Madoff is under house arrest pending trial"So I made him this little action figure of Bernie Madoff... I put a hammer in the box and I said, 'Listen, when you get this thing, just smash it to pieces - it'll make you feel better, and then go bury it in the backyard and put it behind you'. | US financier Bernard Madoff is under house arrest pending trial"So I made him this little action figure of Bernie Madoff... I put a hammer in the box and I said, 'Listen, when you get this thing, just smash it to pieces - it'll make you feel better, and then go bury it in the backyard and put it behind you'. |
"So he did it, thought it was terrifically funny, and then he started telling some of his mates about it and before you know it, everyone's started to order these things." | "So he did it, thought it was terrifically funny, and then he started telling some of his mates about it and before you know it, everyone's started to order these things." |
Mr Madoff, 70, a former chairman of the Nasdaq stock exchange, is accused of running a Ponzi scheme - a system whereby early investors are paid off with the money of new clients. | Mr Madoff, 70, a former chairman of the Nasdaq stock exchange, is accused of running a Ponzi scheme - a system whereby early investors are paid off with the money of new clients. |
If convicted, Mr Madoff faces up to 20 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines. | If convicted, Mr Madoff faces up to 20 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines. |
The financier is under house arrest while police investigations continue and has not yet entered a plea or responded to the charges. | The financier is under house arrest while police investigations continue and has not yet entered a plea or responded to the charges. |
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