Marine Engineering Consultants owner, Murray Owen, charged with fraud

A fraud charge has been laid following a lengthy investigation into to a $2.2m luxury boat that was paid for by a Cairns man but never delivered by a Gold Coast boatbuilder.

An example of a vessel built by Marine Engineering Consultants (MEC Yachts) based at Gold Coast City Marina. Picture: David Clark

A fraud charge has been laid following a lengthy investigation into a $2.2m luxury boat that was paid for by a Cairns man but never delivered by a Gold Coast boatbuilder.

On Wednesday detectives from the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch charged a 64-year-old Hope Island man following a protracted fraud investigation.

Police allege the Cairns-based victim contracted Marine Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd, based at the Gold Coast City Marina, to build a $2.2m boat in September 2017.

Marine Engineering Consultants (MEC Yachts) director Murray Owen has been charged with fraud by Cairns police.

The victim also paid an invoice of $484,000 for two engines in 2018, which were not received before the company went into liquidation, police have alleged.

The owner of Marine Engineering Consultants, Murray John Owen was arrested in Wynnum on Tuesday, July 16, and charged with one count of fraud, dishonestly cause detriment value of at least $100,000.

In 2015 Gold Coast City Marina built the largest commercial vessel ever constructed on the Gold Coast for Cairns company Down Under Cruise and Dive. Picture: David Clark

In 2021 liquidator Chris Baskerville determined that the firm, which traded as MEC Yachts, collapsed with $7.85m in debts and may have been insolvent since August 2019.

Mr Owen is scheduled to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 26.

Police investigations into the matter are continuing.

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Originally published as Marine Engineering Consultants owner, Murray Owen, charged with fraud