Agape Ministries’ members ask court for $2.5 million from leader Rocco Leo’s accounts

THEY agreed to fund a self-styled messiah’s dream of a South Pacific holy land, but now seven members of the controversial Agape Ministries faith want $2.5 million compensation from Rocco Leo.

THEY agreed to fund a self-styled messiah’s dream of a South Pacific holy land, but now seven members of the controversial Agape Ministries faith want $2.5 million compensation.

The Advertiser can today reveal details of the latest lawsuit seeking a slice of Agape’s financial empire, which at its peak spanned two states, eight properties and millions of dollars.

In documents released by the District Court, the group — some of whom publicly swore loyalty to fugitive priest Rocco Leo — say they want every cent they gave him returned immediately.

The group says Leo breached their trust and reneged on his word by failing to create an “outreach centre” in Vanuatu where they would reside and have their needs catered to.

“We provided money on trust and that trust has failed ... the money should be returned to us,” they say in their papers.

“We satisfied our obligation (to Agape and Leo) by making payment, he failed to complete his obligation.”

Agape Ministries first made headlines in May 2010 when a police raid of its properties seized an arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives.

Former members alleged they were duped into handing over millions by claims of human microchipping, mass-murder and government-run concentration camps.

They said they were promised sanctuary on “The Island”, a South Pacific location at which Leo would also heal the sick and profoundly disabled.

After the raid, Leo moved to Fiji and has remained there in defiance of an arrest warrant.

In August 2010, The Advertiser revealed the Agape Ministries financial empire spanned two states, eight properties and a fleet of 13 vehicles, with funds in 10 separate accounts.

The District Court later awarded a former parishioner $420,000 compensation and the Australian Taxation Office more than $6 million in money owed.

In September, BRI Ferrier was appointed to liquidate Agape’s assets to pay the debts.

Last week, the seven parishioners asked the District Court to lift freezing orders on Agape’s accounts so their debt could also be repaid.

The group includes Mimmo and Antonio Romeo, Konstandina Coluccio, Lorenzo Lettieri and Angelo Veneziano.

It also includes Raphael Azariah who, in 2010, became the public face of Agape by denying it was a cult and deeming rumours about it to be “malicious lies”.

The group’s final member is financial planner Kevin Michael Conder — whose business partner, Kathryn, has appeared in court on Leo’s behalf as Agape’s “agent” in Adelaide.

The court file notes Ms Conder accepted service of the lawsuit on Leo’s behalf, and is “residing at” the fugitive’s “last known address”.

In their statement of claim, the group says Leo asked them for money and, between December 2009 and May 2010, they provided a total of $2,562,343.

“Leo stated that he wanted to establish a mission in the South Pacific and that he had located a property to purchase in Vanuatu,” the document asserts.

“He made representations that our contributions to the project would mean we would be provided food, housing and other necessities of life in Vanuatu, and be involved in missionary work in the South Pacific.”

The group says Leo did not establish the mission as promised, and that the Vanuatu property has since been sold to another party.

Members ask the court to refund their money, and to award them damages for “the consequential loss of not having access to the funds” since 2009.

The claim has been transferred to the Supreme Court and will be heard there next month.