In this year of our Lord 2000, an Australian judge let a radio personality (a particularly smooth-talking, voice-for-sale talk-back jock called John Laws) go free after a conviction because, the judge went on to explain, he was too rich to fine, too famous and controversial to go to gaol, and his mansion far too sumptuous for purposes of home detention. I am not making this up either.
Only fair enough in the convict colony, I s'pose ... Rob.