Taskforce Maxima’s Criminal Economy Team, while investigating another matter, has uncovered evidence which has today resulted in the arrest of two men and the issuing of a warrant for the arrest of a third man.
The arrested men, aged 51 from the Gold Coast and 48 from New Farm, have both been charged with retaliation of a witness, attempting to pervert the course of justice and attempted fraud. The third man, aged 48, is not currently in Australia.
The charges stem from an elaborate scheme which police will allege was planned partly in Queensland with key elements executed in Singapore and Indonesia before returning to Queensland where the offences were committed.
In August 2012, the Supreme Court of Queensland dismissed a civil claim against a bank by the third man.
Following the Supreme Court decision, it will be alleged the third man engaged the services of the two other men, together scheming to trick the bank employee into admitting he had provided false testimony in the civil matter.
It will be alleged that two plans were formed in January 2013. Both of these plans involved luring the bank employee to an Indonesian island, located off the coast of Singapore.
It will be alleged the employee willingly attended the island in the belief that they were going to take part in a lucrative job interview.
The legitimacy of the offer was allegedly provided by the 48-year-old charged man. It will also be alleged that the 51-year-old man assumed the role of the job interviewer and attempted to obtain recorded admissions from the bank employee that he had lied during the 2012 civil matter to protect the bank’s interests. It will be alleged the 51 year old assumed a false identity during the interview process.
After failing to obtain any admissions from the bank employee, it will be alleged that a second plan was implemented which saw two Indonesian nationals dress in what appeared to be security-type uniforms enter the room, detain the bank employee and seize his mobile phone, wallet and passport.
It will also be alleged that the third man also made his presence known and threatened the employee which ultimately led to him being coerced into making a confessional video before they would allow him to leave the island.
It will be further alleged the video footage and other falsified documentation were used in an attempt to have the bank reopen negotiations associated with the 2012 civil proceedings and also as potential evidence in a current civil matter involving the bank employee.
Police are yet to speak with the third man who is currently living abroad.
Detective Superintendent Michael Niland said Taskforce Maxima’s Criminal Economy Unit was a new concept introduced as part of the overall campaign against crime gangs in Queensland.
“Their probes into the diverse financial dealings of crime gangs have led the taskforce down many pathways. This is another example of the great work that the Criminal Economy Unit is doing,” Detective Superintendent Niland said.
Detective Inspector Phil Stevens said, “This has been a complex and protracted investigation that is ongoing. It is anticipated that further charges will be laid in the months ahead.”
