Court told Kathryn Conder, self-proclaimed messenger of doomsday cultist Rocco Leo, is joining $9 million assets lawsuit
SHE served as a fugitive cultist’s messenger and warned the “hand of God” would smite his foes — now she has staked her own claim on Rocco Leo’s remaining $9 million in assets.
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SHE has served as doomsday cultist Rocco Leo’s “messenger” for years, even warning the Supreme Court that the “hand of God” would move against those opposing her messiah.
On Tuesday, Kathryn Conder seemingly switched sides and staked her own claim in the four-way fight for control of Agape Ministries’ remaining $9 million in assets.
The court heard Mrs Conder would join a group of former parishioners who are opposing Leo’s own claim on the cash.
A second group of disgruntled followers — including the cult’s one-time “poster couple” — also want the money, as does the Australian Taxation Office.
With battle lines finally drawn in the longrunning case, Justice Martin Hinton said the time had come to consider a trial date in the hope the saga could end by Christmas.
Agape came to public attention in 2010, when police raids of its properties uncovered firearms, bullets and detonators.
Leo and his inner circle fled to Fiji — in defiance of an arrest warrant — as the cult’s bizarre beliefs about armageddon and human microchipping became public.
A series of lawsuits dissected its once mighty two-state financial empire and sold all of its properties — or so it was believed.
In 2016, a final cache of money was found in the bank account of one of the cult’s satellite companies, reviving the legal battle.
Four groups want control of the estimated $9 million remaining:
THE Australian Taxation Office, which claims it is owed millions in back-payments following the cancellation of the cult’s tax-exempt status.
LEO and his inner circle, who claim the money was lawfully bequeathed to them and so should fund their continuing missionary work in Fiji.
A GROUP of former parishioners including Raphael and Patricia Azariah — who publicly swore loyalty to Leo — and Italian-Swiss businessman Lorenzo Lettieri.
A SECOND group of former parishioners including Mrs Conder, her husband Kevin and Konstandina Coluccio.
Further complicating matters, Mr Lettieri continues to fund Leo’s efforts in Fiji through the proceeds of charity bingo nights in the Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland.
In March, Mrs Conder told the court she was Leo’s “messenger” and that he would not obey Justice Hinton’s order that he personally attend court.
She said any decision made against “a man of God” would result in “the hand of God moving” and judgment “on a person’s head that very day”.
Leo did not attend court, and the Supreme Court building is still standing.
On Tuesday, Susan O’Toole, for the Conders and Ms Coluccio, asked for time to file new statements of claim with the court.
“We wish to join Kathryn Conder to these proceedings ... to date, she has not played an active role,” she said.
Lawyers for the ATO asked a trial date be set in order to “keep the parties focused”, but Justice Hinton said Ms O’Toole should “have a chance” to prepare her case.
He ordered the parties to file all papers ahead of a hearing in May, when a trial date will be set.
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