Feral moment fashion designer to the world’s biggest stars confirms her downfall is complete as she screams ‘you steal my cat’ at humble Bali vet after making a dramatic exit from Australia
EXCLUSIVE
A onetime star of the Australian fashion industry is facing trial in a Balinese court for allegedly abusing two veterinarians after failing to pay for treatment for her cat.
Jessie White, founder of the collapsed Shakuhachi fashion empire, has been living in Bali since her business spectacularly went broke, leaving behind a trail of debts.
Little has been seen or heard of White in recent years but she has now found herself in Denpasar District Court facing charges which could land her in jail.
White is accused of ‘intentionally attacking the honour or good name’ of two vets at Bali Veterinary Clinic in Bandung, where she had taken her cat Rocket to be treated.
The clinic claims White accepted that Rocket needed to be admitted to the clinic and agreed to pay for the stay but then tried to pick up the cat without settling the bill.
‘F*** you,’ the 50-year-old allegedly told clinic owner Ni Made Restiati and a colleague when told she could not bring Rocket home.
‘You give him away. You steal my cat. F***ing b***h.’
According to the prosecution, those words were ‘said loudly in a public area’ and made both vets feel embarrassed.
Onetime star of the Australian fashion industry Jessie White is facing trial in a Balinese court for allegedly abusing two veterinarians after failing to pay for treatment for her cat. White (right) is pictured with model and entrepreneur Lindy Klim
White is accused of ‘intentionally attacking the honour or good name’ of two vets at Bali Veterinary Clinic in Bandung, where she had taken her cat Rocket to be treated. She is pictured at the clinic
The prosecution alleges White brought Rocket to the clinic on March 9 last year when the cat was found to suffering an infection to his tail and left leg.
White was told Rocket would need to be admitted for treatment and was asked for a down payment of 1,500,000 rupiah – about $150.
The court has heard while White agreed to the fee she was unable to pay at the time because her debit card was not working.
The clinic nonetheless agreed to treat Rocket, who had been attacked by a dog, on condition that White sign an agreement obliging her to pay for the treatment.
On March 16, a week after Rocket had been admitted, the clinic contacted White via WhatsApp to inform her they would be keeping her cat in their custody because she had not paid the bill.
White arrived at the clinic’s reception desk several hours later and demanded Rocket be returned.
Video of a subsequent confrontation obtained by Daily Mail Australia showed White yelling at staff and claiming she needed another day before she could pay up.
‘I have to borrow the money,’ she said in the video. ‘I will give it to you tomorrow. Is it OK or not?’
Told she could not leave with Rocket unless she paid, White said: ‘So, what will you do with my cat? OK, I’m taking him.’
Jessie White, founder of the collapsed Shakuhachi fashion empire, has been living in Bali since her business spectacularly went broke, leaving behind a trail of debts. She is pictured with her children
White then allegedly entered the intensive care unit and wards without permission, looking for Rocket.
The video showed her walking the aisles while dogs barked, screaming, ‘Where’s my cat? You f***king steal my cat?’
Staff denied stealing Rocket as White began filming them on her phone.
Her rant continued in Bahasa and English.
In a second video, White went on a further tirade and threatened to shut down the clinic by commencing a legal class action.
‘I love my cat, not like you,’ she shouted. ‘You don’t love animals. You give them away… You pretend to be carers of animals. You’re not carers of animals. You’re mean.’
The prosecution has highlighted White allegedly calling Dr Made and her colleague Devita Vanessa Sukmawati Djara ‘f***king b***hes’.
Both vets ‘feel that it is an insult to them and the veterinary profession’, according to the prosecution case.
White, whose occupation on court papers is listed as ‘investor’, is charged with defamation, perpetrating a minor insult and trespassing.
‘F*** you,’ White allegedly told clinic owner Ni Made Restiati and a colleague when told she could not have Rocket. ‘You give him away. You steal my cat. F***ing b***h’
Ni Made Restiati (above) and her colleague Devita Vanessa Sukmawati Djara ‘feel that it is an insult to them and the veterinary profession’ to allegedly be called ‘f***king b***hes’
She has not been detained and has been attending a trial which began in November.
The prosecution has demanded a panel of judges jail White for three months.
The panel will hear a defence statement from White in the coming week, having already received evidence from witnesses, before delivering its verdict.
White can reject the accusations against her or admit wrongdoing and express her regret to receive a lighter sentence if found guilty. She has been contacted for comment.
The mother-of-two ran the once hugely successful Shakuhachi from Bali and has remained there since the company was placed under voluntary administration in May 2015.
Shakuhachi – which was worn by celebrities including singers Lana Del Rey and Rihanna – fell apart with debts totalling more than $1million.
Creditors included manufacturers, modeling agencies and Woollahra Municipal Council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
White appeared to be living a glamorous life in the resort village of Seminyak when Daily Mail Australia last reported on her whereabouts in May 2023.
She had reactivated her Instagram account, sharing pictures of herself dressed in designer clothing at beach clubs and bars on the holiday island.
Andrew Spring, of forensic accounting firm Jirsch Sutherland, told Daily Mail Australia at the time it had not been possible to take action against White over Shakuhachi’s failure.
‘Our investigations identified potential claims against Ms White and a related entity, Emporium Clothing Pty Ltd,’ Mr Spring said.
‘Ms White relocated to Bali and the related entity was liquidated. Due to commercial considerations these claims were unable to be fully prosecuted.
‘We reported the findings of our investigations to the relevant authorities to consider any applicable action to be taken against Ms White.’
Daily Mail Australia understands the corporate watchdog ASIC declined to take further action.
Among the fellow Australian expats White has counted as close friends in Bali are hotelier Cisco Tschurtschenthaler, former Real House Of Melbourne Sally Bloomfield and entrepreneur Lindy Klim.
White, originally from the Melbourne bayside suburb of Sandringham, is the step-sister of The Cat Empire keyboard player Ollie McGill.
In 2017, A Current Affair reporter Chris Allen tracked down a carefree White and found her relaxing at Bali beach clubs and socialising with friends.
When Allen approached White at a cafe to ask about the demise of Shakuhachi, she initially smiled for the camera then left the table and hid in the men’s toilet upstairs.
