Former Surf Lifesaving boss Matthew Hanks faces court on fraud charges
Police will allege former Surf Life Saving NSW boss Matthew Hanks misappropriated more than $2.7 million from the organisation by forging invoices for vehicle sales and siphoning funds using a false printing company.
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Former Surf Life Saving NSW boss Matthew Hanks has faced court for the first time, charged with taking almost $3 million from the charity to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Hanks’ case was briefly mentioned at Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, just over a month after he handed himself into Wollongong Police Station and was charged over an alleged 10-year fraud spree totalling more than $2.7 million.
Police will allege Hanks misappropriated money from Surf Life Saving NSW while working as general manager, by forging invoices for vehicle sales and siphoning funds using a false printing company, resulting in 55 criminal charges.
According to court documents, Hanks allegedly misappropriated more than $1.2 million from the organisation through a false printing company he created, charging Surf Lifesaving NSW at “artificially inflated prices” on several occasions between July 2008 and June 2016.
As well as allegedly forging invoices for car sales, police will allege Hanks initiated agreements with two car dealerships, where inflated invoices for vehicle purchases were provided to the accounts department of SLSNSW, and payment made at prices higher than the actual cost.
The difference between the higher price and actual cost of the vehicles was saved in a fund with auto companies, which Hanks had “sole knowledge of”. Once the accounts reached a sufficient level, Hanks would allegedly buy another vehicle and sell it to make a personal profit.
Between July and August 2012, police will also allege the former GM deposited more than $120,000 in government grant money into his own bank account.
Police will allege in court that Hanks created a false invoice for construction works at the Port Macquarie Surf Club in the fictitious name of EHAN for the amount of $121,000, which he presented to SLSNSW for the purpose of paying out of residual NSW government grant money.
A cheque was issued in the name of EHAN, which Hanks allegedly altered to “E. HANKS” and deposited into his own account.
Police will allege the 50-year-old took the money while he was earning $200,000 a year as GM, and used it to fund a luxury lifestyle with two northern beaches mansions and a $490,000 yacht called Matadore.
Hanks, who now lives in East Corrimal near Wollongong with his partner and young child, remained tight-lipped during his appearance in court. He did not enter pleas to any of the 55 charges and his case was adjourned to December 17 at Sydney’s Downing Centre.