Caddick family’s brutal question to ASIC investigators over fraudster’s death

Members of Melissa Caddick’s family accused ASIC investigators of causing the missing fraudster’s death, an inquest has heard.

Melissa Caddick’s brother accused a corporate watchdog investigator of causing the fraudster’s death in a tense confrontation seven months after she vanished, a court has heard.

The 49-year-old - who has been accused of fleecing $20-$30m from investors via a Ponzi scheme - disappeared from her Dover Heights mansion on November 12, 2020, just hours after being raided by the AFP and ASIC.

The circumstances of her disappearance and suspected death are being examined by a coronial inquest, with the court hearing that member of Ms Caddick’s family had pointed the finger at the corporate regulator.

Ms Caddick has been accused of posing as a financial adviser to rip off investors to fund her lavish lifestyle including holidays, designer jewellery, watches, clothing and shoes.

The court has been told that ASIC began investigating Ms Caddick in September 2020, around the time she booked a shredding company to drop off several large bins at her home to dispose of documents.

Melissa Caddick went missing in November 2020. Picture: Andy Baker

“TORTURED”

The court has been told that Ms Caddick’s mother Barbara Grimely held ASIC responsible for her daughter’s death and claimed that Ms Caddick was not offered food or drink during the raid.

Ms Caddick’s husband Anthony Koletti, a hairdresser and part-time DJ, had raised similar accusations through his music, Paws Offs, counsel assisting Louise Coleman previously told the court.

In his songs, which are available via Spotify, Mr Koletti claims Ms Caddick was not given food or water, that “a lady was tortured” and her “basic humanitarian rights were ignored”.

Isabella Allen, who was ASIC’s lead investigator into Ms Caddick, told the court on Monday that Mr Koletti had made complaints about ASIC’s conduct during the raid.

She also said in June 2021, she was accused by Ms Caddick’s brother Adam Grimley of having caused the fraudster’s death.

The court heard that Mr Grimley asked Ms Allen: “How do you feel about being responsible for Melissa’s death?”

“Do you feel responsible?” she was asked by her counsel John Sutton.

“No, I was doing my job,” Ms Allen replied.

Mr Koletti is due to give evidence before the inquest on Tuesday.

ASIC investigator Isabella Allen has denied she was responsible for Melissa Caddick’s death. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

Police knocked on Ms Caddick’s door shortly after 6am on November 11, 2020 and stayed for 12 hours, during which she was served with a 92-page ASIC affidavit detailing the allegations against her.

Asked about claims made by Mr Koletti and Ms Grimley that she was to “blame” for Ms Caddick’s suspected death, Ms Allen described it as “fictitious” and “fantasy”.

She also denied that during the raid, officers put on Ms Caddick’s jewellery while “giggling and laughing”.

Ms Allen told the court on Monday that the fraudster took a nap in the afternoon when officers were still present in her home.

“She filed her nails from time to time,” Ms Allen said.

Asked by counsel assisting Jason Downing: “Were you made aware Ms Caddick had requested any medical attention?”

“No,” Ms Allen replied.

Anthony Koletti is due to give evidence at the inquest this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Earlier, Mr Koletti’s lawyer Judy Swan asked AFP Constable Amelia Griffen whether Ms Caddick was offered food or drink during the 12 hours the AFP and ASIC were present at her house.

Constable Griffen told the court that she recalled Ms Caddick having a protein shake in the morning.

“I recall asking if she wanted anything to eat or drink,” Constable Griffen said, adding that she couldn’t recall seeing her eat anything else.

Constable Griffen said Ms Caddick and Mr Koletti were told they were free to roam around the premises, including going to the toilet, as long as there was an officer present with them at all times.

Ms Caddick’s home, where she was last seen in November 2202. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

‘DODGY’

The court was told that in November 2019 and June 2020, a financial adviser contacted ASIC to report that Ms Caddick was using her Australian Financial Services Licence number to run her company, Maliver.

The adviser then had a chance encounter with one of Ms Caddick’s investors, Dominique Ogilvie, inside a dentist’s office in mid-2020.

From April to June 2020, Ms Ogilvie had invested $2.5m through Ms Caddick.

Ms Ogilvie asked whether Ms Caddick was “dodgy” and the pair met at Ms Ogilvie’s home later that day.

Ms Ogilvie then rang Ms Caddick to advise her that she was withdrawing her funds.

In August 2020, Ms Caddick returned Ms Ogilvie’s money along with $382,000 in purported profits, with ASIC beginning their investigation in early September.

Anthony Koletti and Melissa Caddick before she went missing. Picture: Facebook

The court was told on Monday that Ms Caddick in mid-September contacted a document shredding business, Shred-X, to come to her home.

The court has previously heard on September 17 - less than two months before the raid - Shred-X delivered two 240L bins which Ms Caddick filled with shredded documents.

Ms Caddick told her employee that the items being shredded were “old documents”.

During her evidence, Ms Allen told the court that she didn’t believe that Ms Caddick had been leaked information about their investigation.

“We still don’t believe the Shred-X contact was made because she had been tipped off,” Ms Allen said.

The inquest continues.