Taxman, rival groups of parishioners agree to division of assets of Adelaide’s infamous Agape doomsday cult
The war for control of the final assets of Adelaide’s infamous doomsday cult is over – and the loyal supporters of its fugitive “messiah” will walk away with $1.2 million.
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The war for control of the final assets of Adelaide’s infamous doomsday cult is over – and the loyal supporters of its fugitive “messiah” will walk away with $1.2 million.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court was given a road map for the distribution of $9 million held in the sole remaining bank account of Agape Ministries International.
Under the plan, three Agape parishioners who still back its leader, Rocco Leo – who lives in Fiji in defiance of an arrest warrant – will have their lost life’s savings reimbursed.
Leo will not benefit from the resolution but Philip Adams, for the trio, said the pastor had been unfairly blamed for the almost nine-year debacle.
“Pastor Leo emphasised (to parishioners) that, if their donations could not for any reason be used, they would be returned,” he told the court.
“Without the ATO, and if not for the ATO having frozen Agape’s assets, these funds would have been released years ago.”
Stephen Sharpley QC, for the ATO – which is owed $13.436 million in unpaid taxes – said that was simply not the case.
“A rather colourful history has been given from the bar table, and we certainly do not agree with it,” he said.
David Bulloch, for the parishioners who broke ties with Leo, agreed.
“Neither of my clients agrees with the other parishioners – they do not support what has been said,” he said.
In 2010, the cult and its apocalyptic beliefs were exposed by an SA Police raid that netted firearms and ammunition — Leo fled to Fiji in defiance of an arrest warrant.
By that time, Agape’s followers had donated $8 million to Leo to establish a South Pacific “haven” where, he preached, they would be spared an impending global apocalypse.
Agape’s assets were thought to have been dismantled, by lawsuits and liquidators, by 2014 but the discovery of $9 million in a hidden account sparked a four-way war for control.
On Tuesday, Mr Sharpley said the pool to be divided had increased by $1.1 million, following the sale of the cult’s former Oakden headquarters last week.
He said the money would be first used to reimburse Leo’s loyalists – Konstandina Coluccio and Kathryn and Kevin Conder.
Another $450,000 would be set aside for Angelo Veneziano, who last week sought to reactivate his dormant claim against Agape.
Mr Sharpley said the remainder would be split “upon percentages” between the ATO and Antonio Romeo, a former member who does not support Leo.
“The amount owed to us is far in excess of the amount (remaining),” he said.
“But we do not oppose any of these orders being made... they represent a compromise between the parties.”
Justice Martin Hinton said he would carefully re-read the “voluminous” evidence in the matter before making the distribution orders next month.
Who gets what in the carve-up
ROCCO LEO
Founder, leader and messiah of the Agape cult.
Built a two-state financial empire of eight properties, 13 vehicles and 10 bank accounts through “gifts and donations” from parishioners.
Raised an additional $8 million, prior to 2010, to establish a mission and “safe haven from Armageddon” for his followers in Vanuatu.
Fled to Fiji, in defiance of an arrest warrant for assault, following police raids of Agape properties that netted ammunition, firearms and detonators.
Tried and failed to “juggle” $5.6 million of his money between two accounts to avoid a tax debt in excess of $13 million.
Continues to live in Fiji, with his inner circle, promoting his religion while living off the proceeds of charity bingo nights held in Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland.
Maintains an online blog claiming all of Australia’s problems – from the weather to Barnaby Joyce’s affair – are God’s punishment for Leo’s suffering.
Share of assets: $0
SUPPORTERS OF LEO
KATHRYN AND KEVIN CONDER
Self-proclaimed “messenger” of Leo and her husband, a retiree.
Donated $390,343.42 to the cult’s Vanuatu plan, intended to move there to live and work.
Have continued to support their messiah-in-exile in court.
Last year, Kathryn warned the “hand of God” would fall on the Supreme Court if it sat in judgment of Leo – no divine retribution came to pass.
Insists Leo would have repaid them had the ATO not gotten involved.
Share of assets: $360,000
KONSTANDINA COLUCCIO
Single mother of three still loyal to Leo.
Donated $900,000 to the cult’s Vanuatu plan, intending to move there with her children.
Claims Leo promised her, before the police raids, that she would be refunded in full if the mission did not go ahead.
Share of assets: $850,000
LORENZO LETTIERI
Businessman in Ticino, Switzerland, who runs charity bingo nights – the profits of which go directly to Leo in Fiji.
Mr Lettieri and his business, of which Leo was a director, originally sought a share of the $9 million as well but dropped out following a Sunday Mail expose.
Share of assets: $0
FORMER SUPPORTERS OF LEO
RAPHAEL AND PATRICIA AZARIAH
Former Agape parishioners who were married by Leo and changed their surnames to mean “the Lord is my helper”.
Served as the cult’s public faces following the 2010 raids, deeming any criticism of it to be “malicious lies”.
Broke ties with Agape prior to March 2015, when they sued the cult for an undisclosed amount.
No longer supportive of Leo or Agape, and reject assertions made in court by the Conders and Ms Coluccio.
Share of assets: Undisclosed
ANTONIO ROMEO
Former member of Agape who broke ties with the cult following Leo’s flight overseas.
Mr Romeo won a judgment against the cult for the return of his life savings, given for the Vanuatu plan, saying he had handed them over under a false belief.
Share of assets: Undisclosed
ANGELO VENEZIANO
Former parishioner who dropped out of the lawsuit, but now wants to resurrect his claim.
The ATO has agreed to leave $450,000 of the $9 million untouched until the court can rule on the validity of his claim.
Share of assets: Still to be decided
AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE
Cancelled Agape’s status as a tax-exempt charity a week after the 2010 police raids and froze its assets to collect the $13,436,000 it was owed.
Accountants caught Leo “juggling” $5.6 million between two accounts in an attempt to disguise it, then discovered a hidden bank account containing a further $9 million.
Sold the cult’s former Oakden headquarters at auction for $1.1 million.
Negotiated terms with former parishioners to return some or all of their life savings before it takes the rest to cover some of the debt.
Concedes the full amount owed will likely never be paid.
Share of assets: Whatever remains of the $9 million after all parishioners are paid.