100 witnesses to be questioned in alleged $3m Gold Coast boiler room fraud

More than 100 witnesses are expected to be questioned in a mammoth hearing for two men accused of helping scam millions of dollars from residents. Read full details here.

Hacker working on computer. Cyber crime concept. Scam, scammer generic.

A multimillion-dollar Gold Coast boiler room fraud case has been listed for a marathon committal proceeding in which more than 100 witnesses are expected to be questioned. 

 

Phillip David Travers and Troy William Moncreiff's matters were mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where they face two charges each of money laundering and fraud (dishonestly inducing property worth $30,000 or more). 

Co-accused James Andrew Heward and Tamika Ruth Simpson have also been charged with two counts each of fraud worth $30,000 or more and money laundering. 

Robert Matthew Travers is charged with two counts of money laundering and Luke Malcolm Small with two counts of fraud in relation to the alleged scam. 

It is alleged the group of six defrauded about $3 million from 178 people by selling fake share-trading software.

Committal proceedings began for their case in October, but came to a halt on the second day after it was found police may have used "pro forma" documents when collecting witness statements.

Magistrate Kerry Magee said at the time that there was a "serious risk" evidence had been influenced by the documents, and 103 witnesses would need to be cross-examined on the issue.

The court was told this week that the prosecution had collected and disclosed the material requested at the last hearing, and all parties would be looking to relist the matter for a three-week committal hearing next year.

Phillip Travers and Moncrieff will have their matters mentioned on March 28 before their committal hearing begins on June 12. 

Their four remaining co-accused will only be required to attend on the first and final day of proceedings.

All six people will remain on bail.

100 witnesses to be grilled in alleged $3m boiler room fraud

More than 100 witnesses in a multimillion-dollar Gold Coast boiler room fraud case will be questioned in court about the methods police used to collect their statements.

Magistrate Kerry Magee said there was a “serious risk” that witnesses had been “unduly influenced”, during a committal hearing of the case in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.

Phil David Travers and Troy William Moncrieff are charged with one count each of fraud (dishonestly induce property of $30,000) and money laundering.

It is alleged they were part of a group of six people who are accused of scamming about $3 million from 178 people by selling bogus share-trading software.

Magistrate Magee ordered 103 witnesses be cross-examined about the police’s use of “pro forma” documents in collecting statements.

The Southport Courthouse. Picture: Jerad Williams

On day two of the committal hearing in August, defence barrister Angus Edwards accused police of sending the pro forma documents to witnesses and allowing them to “fill in the blanks”.

Magistrate Magee said it was “in the interest of justice” that the 103 witnesses be cross-examined about the issue.

“My view is this, if they weren’t cross-examined about whether they received a pro forma, then I think there are substantial reasons in the interest of justice for permitting cross-examination on that point,” she said on Friday.

“It is quite significant. There is a serious risk of their evidence having been unduly influenced by the pro forma.”

On Monday, Detective Sergeant Richard Millard from the Crime and Corruption Commission told the court he developed three “pro forma statements” for police to use.

He said they were intended to be used by police as a guide only and should not have been sent to witnesses.

The matter was adjourned to December 21.

Originally published as 100 witnesses to be questioned in alleged $3m Gold Coast boiler room fraud