Melissa Caddick: Missing woman’s family granted new living allowance while assets frozen

The family of missing businesswoman Melissa Caddick will get a new living allowance days after requesting a “staggering” sum.

The family of missing Sydney businesswoman Melissa Caddick will have a new interim living allowance granted by the Federal Court while Ms Caddick’s assets remain frozen.

Ms Caddick disappeared shortly after her home was raided by the Australian Federal Police as part of an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) investigation into her and her business, Maliver Pty Ltd.

ASIC has filed civil proceedings against her in the Federal Court.

An initial order freezing her assets allowed for $800 per week for her husband and 15-year-old son, but their lawyers asked for an increase.

The family first requested a change to $4880 a week, a sum described as “staggering” by lawyers for ASIC.

On Thursday morning the Federal Court heard a new sum had been arrived at from barrister David Sulan, who is representing Ms Caddick’s brother Adam Grimley as her representative.

“ASIC neither opposes nor consents to that figure, it’s a matter for the court,” said ASIC barrister Stephanie Fendekian.

Justice Brigitte Markovic indicated she would make the order.

The figure was not revealed in court.

Ms Caddick is believed to have left her $7 million Dover Heights home at about 5.30am on November 12 to go on her morning run. She has not been seen since. Pictured: Supplied by NSW Police

The court also heard ASIC seized 60 folders of material in relation to the investigation that were being processed.

Mr Sulan said he was seeking material in relation to living expenses and the “welfare of (Ms Caddick’s) son”, and ASIC’s proposed date of January 22 for the material was “too slow”.

ASIC has had the material since November 11, the court was told.

Ms Fendekian said it was “not realistic” for ASIC to hand over information any earlier due to the Christmas and New Year period, but the date was shifted to January 19.

The court was told on Tuesday that investors had placed $13.1 million in the fund managed by Ms Caddick and investigations had revealed $4 million in her various bank accounts.

Ms Caddick is believed to have left her $7 million Dover Heights home at about 5.30am on November 12 to go on her morning run.

She was due to appear in court later that day but did not take her phone and has not been seen since.

The matter will return to court at a later date.

Originally published as Melissa Caddick: Missing woman’s family granted new living allowance while assets frozen