Crime and publishing

Time was when a nice little book deal could be relied on to bring comfort to a criminal or n'er-do-well in their retirement. No more. Now they can't be seen to profit from their misdemeanours, which rather puts a dampener on chequebook publishing and journalism and (dare I mention something so unfashionable) perhaps even freedom of speech. Not only does it mean we've probably seen the last of publishing phenomena like Chopper Read, but I hear the courts are now trying to get their hands on the $350,000 Pan Macmillan has paid to Schapelle Corby (but not, thankfully, the profit Pan Mac itself has made out of her book). My guess is the cash has already left the country, but they could always try checking the baggage at Sydney airport just in case.