Founder of Melbourne club The Brotherhood, John Moncrieff, investigated over clash with wife

THE founder of one of Melbourne’s most exclusive networking clubs, The Brotherhood, is under investigation over a clash with his wife.

THE founder of one of Melbourne’s most exclusive networking clubs, The Brotherhood, is under investigation over a clash with his wife.

John Moncrieff is being investigated by both Victoria Police and WorkSafe over an incident involving an alleged confrontation at the Bayside headquarters of his security firm, Monjon.

Mr Moncrieff is the founder of an all-male network called The Brotherhood whose membership list includes business figures, AFL and soccer identities, police and politicians.

Victoria Police is investigating allegations he assaulted his wife, who works at Monjon, during an argument over the company roster last year. Both Mr Moncrieff and his wife, Traci, reject that the confrontation amounted to assault.

Ms Moncrieff, who is separated from her husband but remains a part-owner of the business, told the Herald Sun Mr Moncrieff had a “big heart” and that she had not made a complaint because she did not regard the incident as an assault.

“At no stage have I ever felt in fear for my life or threatened by John Moncrieff,” she said during a phone conversation recorded by their lawyer.

A still from a video of the alleged incident.

“He is a very firm businessman and that is the reason why we’re a successful business.”

Security cameras capture Mr Moncrieff pushing his wife down a hallway at 6.14pm on October 23, 2015. She attempts to fight back during the clash, parts of which are referred to in a civil claim against Monjon.

In that claim, lodged by Maurice Blackburn in the Federal Court for Monjon’s human resources manager, Susie Camillio, it is alleged Mr Moncrieff demanded his wife “take the blame” for the incident.

According to the writ, Mr Moncrieff later told his HR manager: “You should be trying to make this go away, not make it worse.”

Mr Moncrieff also allegedly said: “I will not apologise, this is my company, I am the managing director, I will do what the (expletive) I like.”

Mr Moncrieff told the Herald Sun the lawsuit was “vexatious and malicious”, and that he was a hardworking, well-regarded businessman.

Victoria Police said in a statement to the Herald Sun: “Police are investigating an alleged assault at a business address on Bay Road, Cheltenham on 23 October. The investigation is ongoing.”

Worksafe said: “WorkSafe is investigating a complaint it has received ... As the investigation is ongoing, it is inappropriate to comment further.”

[e-mail]