Eye Spy podcast: Keith Schafferius reveals how he got caught up in a homicide plot

An Aussie private eye from Queensland has revealed how he got caught up in a twisted homicide plot. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

A crazed businessman shot his lawyer in the neck with a crossbow before shooting an associate at point blank range with a revolver, but it was private eye Keith Schafferius who police first accused of being involved in the murder.

Mr Schafferius – Australia’s longest licenced private investigator – found himself tangled up in the homicide plot when the murderer tried to use him as an alibi.

“The police raided my office … there would have been at least a dozen and they first accused me of assisting him regarding the murder and trying to cover up for him, “ Mr Schafferius told the Eye Spy podcast.

He had been investigating a stolen boat for the man, but the whole case turned out to be a ruse.

Australia’s longest licenced private investigator Keith Schafferius. Picture: Brad Fleet

Police finally got to the bottom of who dunnit. The female lawyer survived but was left a quadriplegic.

During his more than 50 year career, Mr Schafferius has gone undercover as a delivery driver, posed as a businessman arranging a sting on a corrupt union organiser and as a labourer on a railway line project.

He has used helicopters, fast cars and even a gun during his escapades solving crimes and orchestrating fast getaways.

“I got out my revolver and shot out a couple of the tyres and that slowed him down,” he revealed about the time an angry driver of a semi-trailer being repossessed tried to run him down.

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The private eye has also learned to be very quick on his feet when his undercover identity might be blown and his life put in danger.

During one undercover job he overheard his colleagues talking about a mole in their camp.

“I packed up within an hour and took off back to Brisbane before they could have realised it was me – and disappeared me – dug a hole and dropped me in it.”

Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos was well-known for her shoe collection.

Mr Schafferius’ work led him to Miana where he met a young and brash Donald Trump before he became US President. Picture: Andy Jacobsohn

His line of work led him to meet a young and brash Donald Trump in Miami.

“ He was so full of himself at the time, which I believe he still is, and just praised himself for his money and the women he had.”

While working undercover in the Philippines, he ended up having breakfast with Imelda Marcos enough times to know the legendary stories about her huge shoe collection were true.

“Imelda Marcos used to have breakfast at the Intercon Hotel every morning where I was staying, and she would fly over therein her helicopter or whatever helicopter it was, land on the roof and come down for breakfast. I had breakfast with Imelda probably 12 or 15 times,” he said.

Mr Schafferius also talks about the 30 year search for Syrian-born Farouk Asaad who skipped the United States with a $1 million bounty on his head only to turn up in Australia using the name Michael Boghdadi Asaad.

Syrian-born Farouk Asaad who skipped the United States with a $1 million bounty on his head only to turn up in Australia using the name Michael Boghdadi Asaad.

The Sydney father of seven has been convicted of a string of serious offences in Australia including fraud, heroin dealing and doing business while bankrupt. His most serious crime was fraudulently claiming $90,000 in Centrelink benefits which led to him being jailed.

But by the time Mr Schafferius found him it was unfortunately too late to collect any bounty, Asaad was in immigration detention unable to be returned to the US.

Originally published as Eye Spy podcast: Keith Schafferius reveals how he got caught up in a homicide plot