Michael Searle faces fresh fight as Gold Coast Titans future cast in doubt yet again
THIS is the signature that has plunged the financially stricken Titans property arm into a fraud investigation.
THIS is the signature that has plunged the financially stricken Titans property arm into a fraud investigation.
The Queensland Police have confirmed they are investigating allegations a fraudulent document was used to allow the Centre of Excellence to pass a building inspection.
The matter relates to a key government document bearing the name of Brisbane-based tradesman Graham Fredericks, who claims his signature was forged to enable the Centre of Excellence to pass inspection and be occupied.
A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed the Centre of Excellence investigation yesterday, saying: "We are investigating this matter - it would be inappropriate to comment any further."
Fredericks has submitted a statutory declaration to the BSA and police saying he has never performed work on the Titans' training facility.
"I have never set foot in or anywhere near the Centre of Excellence," Fredericks told The Sunday Mail. "I never signed the form. Someone has used a photocopy of my signature. The Titans shouldn't even be in the building . . . how was it legally certified when I did no work there and it's not my signature?"
The building is owned and operated independently of the Titans football arm by the Gold Coast Titans (Property) Pty Ltd.
Detectives are set to interview several parties - including Centre of Excellence builders Reed Constructions.
The investigation will establish who lodged the alleged forged document to allow the Centre of Excellence to pass a building inspection.
There is no suggestion the Titans porperty arm was aware of, or complicit in, the alleged fraud.
But the investigation comes at the worst possible time, with the Titans property arm trying to sell the Centre of Excellence to help clear debts of at least $18.2 million.
The Sunday Mail has seen the alleged forged document. Known as a Form 16, it falsely lists the tradesman's surname as "Fredrickson" instead of Fredericks.
The company name written on the form does not match Fredericks' business details on the BSA website.
BSA records also show Fredericks owns a company called A1 Interior Linings.
Yet the alleged forged document, handed to police, says he incorrectly owns Altitude Constructions, which is run by Chris Doolan, a tradesman Fredericks says he does not know.
The form relates to fire-installation systems on a commerical building.
Fredericks says the Centre of Excellence could be a potential fire hazard to Titans players and office staff if the systems have not been completed in accordance with Queensland building regulations.
"Whoever lodged the document couldn't even get my name right," he said.
"They called me Fredrickson, yet signed it off as Fredericks, and listed a company that's not mine. It's embarrassing."
CEO Michael Searle claims to have secured a team of investors to clear the football arm of a separate $5m debt.
But if the Titans property arm cannot offload the Centre of Excellence to proposed buyers Phil Ward and Robert Clark, the Titans remain at risk because the NRL club, and Searle himself, have given personal guarantees on the Commonwealth Bank's $13.4m loan.
BSA general manager Ian Jennings said the building was cleared for occupancy in 2010. But he added: "The Building Services Authority has made a complaint to the Queensland Police Service in relation to the Centre of Excellence.
"The BSA has been involved in ongoing talks and meetings with various parties, including the Titans organisation, in regards to this matter."
Asked if the Titans could be evicted, Queensland Fire and Rescue president Gordon Hemphrey said: "That would be a last resort . . . we will await the outcome and take whatever action is necessary."
Ward said he was aware of the fraud investigation.
"I have spoken to the BSA and I am awaiting an email from them," he said. "As far as safety goes, the building is safe, which is paramount for the Titans employees. The BSA mentioned there has been a certificate of occupancy issued, but I would like that in writing."