SA Supreme Court told four-way war for control of Adelaide doomsday cult’s remaining $9m will resolve without trial
THE end is nigh, at last, for the Agape Ministries saga with the doomsday cult’s remaining millions set to be split between several warring factions — but not its fugitive messiah.
- Exposed: How Italian-Swiss bingo funds Adelaide cult in Fiji
- Dire threat: Cultist warns court the ‘hand of God’ will come down
- Fugitive ‘messiah’ won’t contest lawsuit if his ‘messenger’ benefits
THE end is nigh, at last, for the Agape Ministries saga with the doomsday cult’s remaining millions set to be split between several warring factions — but not its fugitive messiah.
On Friday, the Supreme Court congratulated the Australian Taxation Office and Pastor Rocco Leo’s former devotees for settling their two-year battle over the cult’s last $9 million.
It heard the cash would be used to refund the one-time parishioners’ lost life savings, with the remaining balance going to the ATO to offset some of Leo’s massive tax debt.
Gillian Walker, for the ATO, said that — coupled with the November 8 auction of the cult’s Oakden compound — would resolve everything save Leo’s ongoing flight from justice.
“Everything will be wrapped up in terms of the money, but we do not know what other assets are out there,” she said.
“I anticipate I will be instructed not to lift the freezing orders (on Agape’s assets) in case Leo ever returns to the jurisdiction.”
In 2010, SA Police raided Agape’s properties and seized firearms, ammunition and detonators, promoting Leo to flee — in defiance of an arrest warrant — to Fiji with his inner circle.
The cult’s doctrine, preaching global apocalypse and Leo as the world’s sole salvation, was revealed as its million-dollar empire was dismantled by a series of lawsuits.
All assets were thought to have been redistributed by 2014 but, two years later, a hidden bank account containing $9 million was found — sparking a four-way war for control.
The ATO and two groups of former followers — one loyal, one disgruntled — staked claim to the cash, as did Leo himself.
He continues to live in Fiji, his ongoing “missionary” exploits funded by the proceeds of bingo nights held in the Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland.
In August, the court was told Leo would no longer contest the lawsuit so long as his loyalists received their money.
On Friday, Ms Walker and counsel for the Leo loyalists told the court they had reached an agreement on how to resolve the battle, removing the need for a trial.
Ms Walker said the court would need to temporarily vary the freezing order, then issue the parishioners with paperwork so that the bank would release funds to them.
“After that occurs, the amount that is owed to my client will be reduced (by the remaining balace) to reflect the outcome of this matter,” she said.
Counsel for the parishioners, however, noted one former Agape member who had dropped out of the lawsuit now wanted to rejoin it.
Justice Martin Hinton urged that man to do so before next month, when he will hand down the orders sought.
“I congratulate the parties on having resolved the matter,” he said.