Fake legal letter makes dirty demand of council candidate

The mud has been flying in a stoush between two rival candidates in the recent City of Casey election, leaving a bad odour all round.

Council candidate Jaz Masuta has been served with a fake legal letter that demanded he provide a faecal sample as part of a sham criminal investigation.

Jaz Masuta, City of Casey council candidate, was taken aback by a demand for his faeces.Credit: A Current Affair

Masuta and bitter rival Gurpreet Gill had both run for the Dillwynia ward in Melbourne’s south-east. But the campaign had been blighted by allegations of dirty politics, including the disappearance of and damage to several posters promoting Gill.

Masuta has repeatedly denied any role in the removal or vandalism of the signs.

The fake legal letter addressed to Jas Masuta.

However, the forged legal letter – which has been referred to police for investigation – was sent to Masuta’s real estate business in Cranbourne on November 6, following his unsuccessful bid to become a councillor.

The fake correspondence, purportedly sent by Sydney barrister Geoff Harrison, had falsely claimed he was representing Gill, who was also not elected.

Melbourne barrister Elizabeth McKinnon was also incorrectly named as Masuta’s lawyer, according to the letter.

The correspondence advised Masuta of a bogus criminal investigation following a “story featured on A Current Affair involving his potential involvement in criminal damage to a rival candidate’s political posters”. There was, however, an item of A Current Affair.

“Upon further forensic testing of the corflute signs stolen from the City of Casey, faecal matter has been found,” the letter read.

“We are hereby requesting that Mr Masuta consent for immediate testing of his faeces and provide this sample (witnessed) to a laboratory of his choosing,” read the fake legal letter, dated October 24.

Gurpreet Gill, City of Casey council candidate Credit: A Current Affair

Masuta said he initially panicked after receiving the letter on November 6, but then suspected it was a hoax.

On Wednesday, he contacted Harrison and McKinnon, who both confirmed they had no knowledge of him, or the matters raised in the letter.

“This is dirty politics... I don’t know anything about missing signboards and there is no proof this was done by us,” Masuta said.

He said he had been bombarded with anonymous threats following the ACA investigation, while his real estate firm had received negative reviews as a result of the allegations.

“The sample must be fresh, recent and of a size and consistency that will allow for appropriate DNA sensitivity.”

“My life is already messed up, and I’m losing my business,” Masuta said.

He confirmed the forged letter had been referred to detectives from the Narre Warren crime investigation unit.

Harrison, who has practised criminal law in Sydney for more than 20 years, confirmed the letter was a fake.

“It certainly wasn’t sent from me. It’s obviously fraudulent. It’s not my letterhead, it’s not my signature and I have no involvement,” Harrison said.

“It was annoying, but also fairly humorous as long as they didn’t ask for the samples to be sent to my office,” he said.

McKinnon also denied any knowledge of Masuta or the recent disappearance of political posters in Casey.

“He called me yesterday in a distressed state about this letter. I have never met the man and I knew nothing about this letter. I spoke to barrister Geoff Harrison, who also knows nothing about it.

“It’s certainly creative. Whilst I practise in crime, crimes involving faeces are not my forte,” McKinnon said.

Gill said he was the target of a politically motivated campaign.

“As reported by A Current Affair, first my election signs were stolen and damaged, and now a fabricated legal letter is being circulated. I humbly ask those that are responsible for these childish activities to stop, as it is causing unnecessary unrest in the community,” he said.

Get alerts on significant breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.