Arrest warrant issued for Nathan Tinkler after court no-show

An arrest warrant has been issued for the embattled coal mogul Nathan Tinkler after he failed to appear in court in Adelaide.

Former Australian billionaire Nathan Tinkler (L) talks to a journalist as he arrives to the New South Wales Supreme Court in central Sydney March 14, 2013.

The ABC reports Judge Roder said Tinkler had “no reasonable excuse” not to appear in court.

The embattled former coal mining mogul was ordered to face the court on Monday for an investigation into the liquidation of his thoroughbred farm in the Gold Coast hinterland, Patinack Farm.

Patinack Farm was one of the side businesses sports-mad Tinkler snapped up at the height of his wealth.

Liquidator Anthony Matthews and associates took action in the South Australian Supreme Court over the unpaid debts.

He is quoted in The Australian newspaper as saying that he made it clear he would be unable to make the court hearing and had offered a security bond instead.

Judge Roder made an order “that a warrant be issued for the arrest of Nathan Leslie Tinkler” so he can be brought before the court to be examined about the affairs of Patinack Farm Administration Pty Ltd, “detaining him in custody in the meantime”.

“My lawyer didn’t turn up this morning, it would appear to be a bit of a mix-up and they’ve gone heavy-handed”, Tinkler reportedly said from Queensland state.

Tinkler had previously avoided appearing before the court earlier this year after he agreed to pay $400,000 towards the collapsed company’s debts.

Tinkler’s former right-hand man and Patinack Farm Administration director Troy Palmer and Patinack’s chief financial officer Tony Marshall were both subpoenaed to appear, but both supplied written statements and were excused as a result.