They are high-class crooks, with equally high-class demands. The economic collapse sure hasn’t taught any of these Wall Street cheats on how to appreciate what they have.

Take Bernie Madoff , who faces charges for allegedly running a US$50 billion ($75.5 million) scam. Now under house arrest, the 70-year-old is holed up in his US$7 million Upper East Side penthouse, as part of his US$10 million bail conditions.

But he’s whining that it’s no fun.

A source close to Madoff told the New York Post that Madoff has been complaining: “I’m a prisoner in my own house! I can’t go anywhere! I’m stuck here all day!”

Madoff is especially agitated that “he can’t even go outside just to go to the corner, or get something to eat,” the source said.

Madoff gets to escape spending time behind bars while awaiting his trial.Instead, he has to stay put at his home at Park Avenue and East 64th Street, with security guards watching him 24 hours a day.

Federal authorities have also installed wiretaps on Madoff’s phones and computers.

Tracked

The source said: “If he surfs the Web or makes a call, it’s going to be tracked.”
It is ironic that Madoff is feeling sorry for himself, even as thousands of victims from his alleged scam are struggling to avoid bankruptcy and the seizure of their own homes.

Also feeling sorry for herself is a wealthy Upper West Side woman, who faces charges of siphoning off US$80 million from Fortune 500 firms.

Dina Wein-Reis is complaining she can’t do without her luxuries and has filed papers in a New York court to ask for the return of hundreds of personal items which were confiscated after her arrest last October.

The 44-year-old claims that her possessions and money were improperly seized as the warrants cover only items which are linked to her alleged crime.

Among the list of items are seven sculptures and nearly 60 pieces of artwork b Andy Warhol, Robert Motherwell, Egon Schiele and others.The list also includes a Louis XVI-style sofa, chairs and footstools, dozens of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and cufflinks from Tiffany, Cartier and Chopard.

The mother of three, is accused of duping consumer product firms into giving her huge discounts on their goods. She faces charges for promising to donate the goods to charity but instead, sold them for profits.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Feb 1, 2009.