An appeal could see convicted insider trader, Oliver Curtis, freed as early as this Friday morning and home with the family in time for Christmas. But whatever the outcome, one certainty is that family ties will ensure he – like his partner in crime John Hartman – don't fall too far from the golden perch.
One of the most damning strands in the tale of Hartman and Curtis, was the wave of immense privilege that delivered them to such giddy heights at such a young age.
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Rogue Traders
Not long out of school, best friends John Hartman and Oliver Curtis were starting out in the world of high finance.
And all the evidence suggests it has not abandoned them.
Hartman has found employment in Western Australia with the foundation of billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest.
Curtis will almost certainly return to the safe confines of the business enclave set up by his father, Nick Curtis, if he wins the appeal.
It doesn't stop there, either.
Among those whose reputation was caught in the cross-fire of the courtroom battle was John's brother, Edward Hartman. He had a senior role at UBS at the time of the committal hearing for Curtis.
The court heard of emails from Edward to his brother with a very shady proposition: Fixing a horse race with controversial jockey, Danny Nikolic. This evidence was never contested in court.
Edward left UBS soon after the emails came to light, but landed another plum role in New York as the head of boutique fund manager, Caledonia Investments.
But Edward has now turned up at a very prominent new employer – Rupert Murdoch's News Corp – as its New York-based head of mergers and acquisitions.
For those with short memories, John and Edward's dad is Dr Keith Hartman – who is known as the obstetrician to the stars after delivering babies for Erica and James Packer, as well as Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch.
Lachlan is now, of course, co-chairman of News Corp.
It is safe to assume News Corp papers will not be repeating this 2007 email from Edward which The Australian reported a few years back: "I love f---ing over private clients. Let's go get a bottle of champagne."
Packer's Dunkirk
Crown's entire board attended the opening of its new $650 million hotel at its Perth casino on Wednesday night, but not its troubled employee, James Packer.
Presumably he was still licking the many wounds inflicted this year on the professional and personal front, which were compounded by the company's announcement on Thursday morning of its retreat from the global stage.
In some ways it is Packer's Dunkirk.
He might no longer be able to make the claim that he has turned a $US600 million investment in Macau into a $US6 billion bonanza, but he has undoubtedly made billions from his gamble on the casino enclave.
However, there is no hiding the fact that this is a massive retreat.
So where does one hide out to escape the fallout?
According to Packer's favoured press, he is hiding out in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Why the tango capital you ask? Well, where else on earth could he hide out besides Patagonia.
Australia is not the best place to be inconspicuous at the moment. Neither is his adopted home of Los Angeles, where the first episodes of Mariah Carey's reality show are almost rivalling Trump in the ratings.
Israel is probably a no-go as well, given the reports about the authorities probing the finer details of Packer's close relationship with the family of Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
And there is no longer any reason to visit China now he is abandoning Macau and Melco's other Asian interests.
7-Eleven's Got Talent
When you've had a year as humiliating as the one that 7-Eleven's Australian franchise has been through, it is best to keep things low profile, right?
But in case you haven't noticed, that's not how this particular crew rolls.
CBD is please to report that 7-Eleven's gathering of its franchisee family last week was not unduly modest.
The real extravaganza was the Gala Ball at Crown Palladium on Thursday night featuring Australia's Eurovision rep, Dami Im.
CBD was sent a picture of the night's highlight, 7-Eleven CEO Angus McKay and his senior posse putting on some sort of song and dance routine. If only 7-Eleven returned our calls for more details.
It is almost enough to make your columnist shed a tear that this is the last regular column for this year.
Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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