Mysterious company at centre of search for Hayne’s missing $780k

A mystery company is centre to a scandal where disgraced NRL star Jarryd Hayne, a bikie, Hamzy clan member and jailed ex-cop allegedly lost more than $2 million to a gifted conman.

A mysterious company is at the centre of a scandal where disgraced NRL star Jarryd Hayne allegedly had $780,000 stolen from him by a gifted conman.

The former Parramatta Eels star was one of a number of inmates inside Cooma Jail who allegedly fell victim to the charms of jailed fraudster Ishan Seenar Sappideen.

Sappideen, an ex-Sydney Grammar student serving a 12-year sentence for fleecing $4.6 million from family and friends, allegedly told fellow inmates he had earned $290 million in a Bitcoin investment alongside billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes.

Several inmates, including a senior bikie, a member of the Hamzy clan, a jailed ex-cop and others arranged to transfer more than $2 million after allegedly being sold on a number of schemes by Sappideen.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told a number of the inmates, including Hayne ($780,000) and the senior bikie ($100,000), were instructed by Sappideen to deposit money into a bank account belonging to a company which cannot legally be named.

Jarryd Hayne walking out of Cooma Correctional in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The whereabouts of the inmates’ money is now unknown.

The director of the company is a relative of another inmate at the jail.

That inmate is serving a 10-year sentence for a $5 million fraud on funds that were supposed to be used for investments and is also a shareholder of the company, according to ASIC records.

At the peak of his powers, Hayne was one of the best players in the NRL. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The director of the company declined to answer questions over the phone or email about why the money was deposited into the company’s account or its current whereabouts when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.

“I don’t know that you are who you say you are,” the director said.

It is not known if the director was duped into taking part in the alleged scheme and there is no suggestion they have committed any wrongdoing.

Detectives from Sutherland Police Area Command are now investigating Sappideen.

But in an unusual twist, the investigation was sparked after a complaint was made to police about Sappideen by the director of the company.

It is understood the complaint relates to an allegation that Sappideen stole $1.2 million from the director or their family.

Earlier this year, a Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman confirmed prison investigators had conducted an internal probe into complaints that Sappideen allegedly ripped off a number of inmates.

Fraudster Ishan Sappideen. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Correctives then referred the results of the internal investigation to NSW Police on March 10, a CSNSW spokeswoman said.

“CSNSW intelligence officers became aware of allegations an inmate at Cooma Correctional Centre was attempting to coerce and advise fellow inmates to make transactions on the financial markets,” a CSNSW spokeswoman said.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed a complaint had been made about Sappideen.

“On (September 3) officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command received a report in relation to an alleged fraud offence,” the spokeswoman said. “No further information is available at this time.”

Hayne is set to appeal his rape conviction. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Hayne, who was in the jail after being convicted of rape, has not made a complaint to police.

A senior bikie, who cannot legally be named, allegedly transferred more than $100,000 to the company after an alleged promise by Sappideen that he would receive a benefit from a property deal which never eventuated.

A convicted murderer also claims to have given Sappideen about $100,000.

When sentencing Sappideen for his $4.6m swindle in 2018, District Court Judge Mark Williams SC said the fraudster’s performance skills were better than many barristers.

“I stress that it is difficult to fully appreciate this young man’s confident presentation and his ability to express himself without actually seeing him,” Judge Williams told the court.

“His skills in communication and presentation are of an order that would be the envy of many members of the legal procession.”