Investors may get tax refund on Melisa Caddick’s missing millions

Investors ripped off by missing financial planner Melissa Caddick may receive tax refunds — and could launch a class action against those who audited her accounts.

In the latest bizarre twist to the Melissa Caddick case, investors ripped off by the missing financial planner may receive a refund from the tax office because the tax was paid on fictitious accounts.

Provisional liquidator Bruce Gleeson also foreshadowed a possible class action against the auditors, accountants and other professionals who audited the dodgy accounts and filed tax returns.

Businesswoman Melissa Caddick, who went missing in November owing investors millions of dollars. Picture: Andy Baker

“Such possible claims would need to be further evaluated, but are likely

to be against the auditor and potentially other professionals involved in the audit process, and may possibly take the form of class action,” Mr Gleeson said ahead of a Federal Court hearing on June 29.

“We are also investigating other possible claims, including whether there may be an

opportunity to claim taxation refunds from the ATO, as a significant majority of the taxable income of the company (Maliver) was fictitious.”

The brazen conwoman, who stole $24 million from 74 investors, has not been seen since November 11 last year when federal police officers raided her $7 million Dover Heights mansion on behalf of the corporate cop ASIC.

She is believed dead after her decomposed foot was found in a shoe on an isolated beach near Tathra on the state’s south coast, but the rest of her body has not been found.

The Federal Court hearing on June 29 will decide if Mr Gleeson’s company Jones Partners will be appointed receivers and liquidators of Caddick’s personal affairs as well as those of her company Maliver.

The court will also agree upon a plan for them to claw back as much money as they can for investors.

The ASIC raid on Melissa Caddick’s business and home in November. Picture: NSW Police

He said that no new assets had been found.

Her known assets include her Dover Heights home and the Edgecliff penthouse she bought for her parents, who are also claiming they paid towards it, as well as her jewellery, shares and the Audi A8 and Mercedes driven by her husband Anthony Koletti.

Mr Gleeson said the ATO had set up a working group to act as a central

point for investors.