Ali Sultan‘s son Moe takes early win as independent administrators appointed over estate

The first stage in what is likely to be a battle over many months over the last will of property developer Ali Sultan has wrapped, with his son taking an early victory. DETAILS >>>

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THE son of the late Ali Sultan has had an early win in the process of disputing his father’s will, with two accountants from Deloitte appointed to oversee the vast estate on an interim basis.

An application before Associate Justice Stephen Holt in the Supreme Court of Tasmania over Wednesday and Thursday was heard to determine if an independent administrator should be appointed to oversee the estate while a wider will dispute issue continues through the court process.

Raoul Wilson SC, who represented Mr Sultan’s son Moe, said any independent administrator would be able to appoint directors of Mr Sultan’s companies and was pushing for two accountants from Deloitte to be appointed.

Raoul Wilson SC and Moe Sultan arrive at the Supreme Court in Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Shaun McElwaine SC, who was representing Azia Gregory Melick – better known as Greg Melick – and Mark Saltzman, argued Mr Saltzman should be appointed as the administrator of the estate.

Mr Saltzman had worked as an accountant for Sultan Holdings since 2012.

Associate Justice Holt found in favour of Moe Sultan and ordered the men from Deloitte be appointed as interim administrators.

He said the Deloitte accountants were independent of the probate dispute, which he said may take months to resolve, whereas the fourth defendant, Mr Saltzman was a party to it.

“He[Saltzman] has knowledge of the financial position of the estate, however he would propose to leave the day to day operations of the company in the hands of at least one person who there have been serious allegations made against by the plaintiff – those allegations relate to the honesty of that person,” Associate Justice Holt said.

Saleh Sultan, brother of Moe and son of Ali arrives at court. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Associate Justice Holt said the Deloitte appointees were “readily perceivable” as being completely independent of the wider dispute.

On Wednesday, it was revealed Moe was challenging his father’s will, claiming in court documents some executers and trustees misused money from the estate and invalidly appointed themselves directors of Sultan Holdings.

The court heard allegations some of Mr Sultan’s business associates appointed themselves directors of his company, approved pay rises for fellow directors and Sultan Holdings’ operations manager Ian Creese had approved the use of estate money to pay the private school fees of project development manager Tim Lucas’ children.

Aziz Gregory Melick arrives to give evidence at the Supreme Court in Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

On Thursday morning, Greg Melick was cross examined as part of the hearing.

He said he was a close friend of Mr Sultan’s and he had been named an executor of every version of his will from 2012 onwards.

Mr Wilson asked Mr Melick when he became aware of the payments from the estate for Mr Lucas’ children’s school fees to which he said it was “some time afterwards.”

“It was always intended that we would pay it back,” he said.

Mr Wilson asked if the money had been repaid yet.

“I don’t know – I think advice is being sought about it – when I became aware of it I said the payments needed to be repaid,” Mr Melick said.

Following the court decision, Moe Sultan said in a statement it was a “great outcome for my family and I.”

“It ensures dad’s companies are in safe hands while issues regarding dad’s will are resolved,” he said.

“I’d like to reiterate that my family’s sole motivation is to protect and preserve dad’s legacy.”

The substantive matter will unfold in coming months.