Former Geelong businessman and Big Brother star Heath Tournier is now homeless
A one-time celebrity and high-flying businessman has found himself sleeping rough after claims he is an alleged victim of a major fraud and money laundering plot against him.
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A one-time celebrity and high-flying businessman has found himself sleeping rough amid claims he is an alleged victim of a major fraud and money laundering plot.
Former Geelong tradie and Big Brother star Heath Tournier claims he has been sleeping rough and “bouncing from hotel to hotel” with “no cash” to his name while Victoria Police and New South Wales detectives look into his affairs as part of the probe.
He has filed complaints in both states over the alleged fraud and money laundering breaches, which he claims include loans being taken out in several of his companies’ names using allegedly fraudulent signatures.
Mr Tournier had built successful construction firms in Western Australia and Victoria, a student accommodation business and a real estate company after he shot to fame on the reality TV series in 2005.
The 40-year-old says his property portfolio was estimated to be worth “around $20m easy” but he’s allegedly been “frozen out” of all of them.
“I’ve been sleeping on the street and in hotels,” he said.
“I’ve had no money. The last $3500 I had to my name I spent on swags for other homeless people.
“I’m just surviving at the moment.”
Mr Tournier, whose former Surf Coast house was burnt to the ground in December 2017, is claiming “millions and millions of dollars” have allegedly been stolen from his bank accounts during more than a decade of systematic fraud and money laundering against him.
He said he was suicidal last year and “still can’t believe what has happened to me.”
“I cry every day,” he said.
“The struggle is real and it’s bloody hard.
“I can’t get a rental. I am just going around picking up some labouring jobs for cash and basically just living off the generosity of people, and some I don’t even know.”
NSW Police confirmed to the Geelong Advertiser a complaint had been made from Mr Tournier in relation to the fraud allegations with and investigation is ongoing.
Victoria Police has also assigned officers to look into the allegations.
Mr Tournier was almost killed in 2017 during an arson attack on his Torquay home and his family’s luxury car.
A Bell Post Hill man, Sean Mannion, was eventually jailed for seven years over the shocking attack after he pleaded guilty to arson and reckless conduct endangering life in the Geelong County Court in February 2020.
He had placed a device underneath Mr Tournier’s Mercedes-Benz, which was parked about a metre from the family’s home.
The court heard at the time Mannion ignited the device, which contained petrol and dozens of sparklers, before fleeing the scene.
The vehicle was completely destroyed by fire, while the flames quickly spread to the house, which was significantly damaged and rendered unliveable.
The total loss and damage bill was in the vicinity of $500,000.
If you need help call Lifeline 13 11 14.
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Originally published as Former Geelong businessman and Big Brother star Heath Tournier is now homeless
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