I saw this late last night but couldn't be bothered posting it. I'm feeling less lazy this morning. The cops announced this yesterday.
Eels deals under cop task force inquiry
NSW Police have established a taskforce to examine Parramatta’s dodgy deals, with fraud squad detectives escalating their investigation to cover a range of serious criminal matters, including money laundering, that potentially carry lengthy jail terms.
Strike Force Rhodium has been set up by the State Crime Command’s Fraud and Cyber Squad to investigate whether any fraud was committed against Parramatta Leagues Club and its members.
It is understood police are also examining possible charges of fraud and perhaps conspiracy in the wake of revelations of multiple deceptions at the Eels, even involving the liquid papering of key documents at the club, as revealed by The Daily Telegraph.
The basis of the police interest in the Eels is understood to be the allegedly fraudulent use of club money to organise lucrative, under-the-table, third party agreements for key players by altering invoices and contracts to mislead both the Eels and its rich parent company, the $82 million-a-year Parramatta Leagues Club.
“Investigations are complex and are anticipated to be protracted,” a police spokeswoman said.
“Investigators are in possession of a large quantity of financial documents which will undergo detailed forensic accounting analysis.”
She said “a number of people who may be able to assist police in the investigations” would be interviewed “in due course”.
A police source said it is viewed as a “very, very interesting case”. “Some of the crimes we are looking at are very serious,” the source said.
“Multiple people” are understood to be under investigation but not any players. No charges have yet been laid.
The club’s HQ has been crowded with law enforcement authorities in recent weeks, with the fraud squad an ongoing presence, along with NSW Liquor and Gaming and tax office investigators.
It is understood the most interesting line of inquiry is to investigate whether the conduct of some officials could constitute money laundering, which is dealing “with the proceeds of crime … knowing that it is proceeds of crime, and intending to conceal it is proceeds of crime”.
In the Eels’ case, clubs had effectively been deceived into making payments on the basis of false invoices. Money may be considered “laundered” when it is used for a purpose other than what is listed in the invoice.
There also appear to be issues of a possible cover-up that police are likely to investigate, with the liquid papering of invoices and other financial records after the NRL started a forensic investigation into the club, and the erasure of crucial boardroom tapes that talked about the club’s plans to rort the NRL’s salary cap, according to minutes.
It is a criminal offence to render documents and other records “false or misleading in a material particular” if it results in a “financial disadvantage”
Replies
Hope it opens up a can of worms at other clubs.
Well if the police investigation gets into TPAs you can bet your boots that this will spread far and wide with other clubs also involved. Unfortunately Melbourne and Brisbane are different jurisdictions, so they would be a little harder to investigate I would have thought.
I wonder when the mini-series will start. What's the bet Paul Kent will get a lead role, maybe as Kieran Foran so he gets to pull the Eels No. 7 jersey on for more than 10 seconds this time.
We could end up with a real gang of 5/clubs name restored/a fairer nrl
Sewered walks into his cell & meets his cell-mate, Bubba, a 22 stone convict doing time for over 200 counts of forced sodomy. His new friend is sitting on the lower bunk.
SS (nervous); So I guess the top bunk is mine?
Bubba (smiling); You won't be needing no bunk, sweet-cheeks.
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