Ex-boss Matthew Hanks accused of taking $2.7m from Surf Life Saving NSW
Former Surf Life Saving NSW boss Matthew Hanks faces 55 criminal charges, after allegedly taking almost $3 million from the charity to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Illawarra Star
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Former Surf Life Saving NSW boss Matthew Hanks faces 55 criminal charges, after allegedly taking almost $3 million from the charity to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Hanks, 50, presented himself to police in Wollongong yesterday morning, and was charged following an alleged 10-year fraud spree totalling more than $2.7 million.
He allegedly took the money while general manager of the organisation, and used it to fund a luxury lifestyle with two northern beaches mansions and a $490,000 yacht called Matadore.
Hanks was paid a general manager’s salary of $200,000 per year. News of the charges has devastated the volunteer heroes and heroines who risk their lives in the surf to rescue people in trouble.
Detective Acting Superintendent Richard Puffett said the alleged fraud began in 2006 and was “complex, sustained and quite brazen”.
Police will allege Hanks misappropriated money from the organisation by forging invoices for vehicle sales and siphoning funds using a false printing company.
“The 50-year-old acted alone via a number of means and actions to personally benefit from the funds,” Supt Puffett alleged.
Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad and Northern Beaches Area Command began investigating Hanks through Strike Force Splint in 2017, after the charity discovered “anomalies” in its accounts and reported them to police.
The establishment of the strike force followed a civil case between Surf Lifesaving NSW and its general manager.
Hanks, who now lives in East Corrimal near Wollongong with his partner and young child, was charged with seven counts of obtain money by deception (greater than $15,000) and 48 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
Surf Lifesaving NSW yesterday welcomed the charges against Hanks, and thanked members and the community for their support over the past three years.
“We have been co-operating with the NSW Police for the past three years with their investigations and we now await the outcome of criminal proceedings,” the organisation said.
“We know our members share our anger, disappointment and frustration in this matter and we have endeavoured to keep clubs and other stakeholders informed of progress.”
Hanks was released from police custody just before 3.30pm on Wednesday, more than six hours after he was arrested at Wollongong Police Station.
Hanks must adhere to strict conditional bail and will make his first appearance at Wollongong Local Court in October.
Surf Lifesaving NSW has more than 75,000 members at 129 clubs who patrol more than 1500km of coastline to safeguard beachgoers.
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