The liquidators and receivers pursuing justice for investors defrauded of more than $20 million by Ponzi scheme creator Melissa Caddick have moved on the family assets.
Jones Partners have given notice to Ms Caddick’s family members, warning they plan to take possession of her assets and those of her company Maliver, after getting court approval.
Ms Caddick, a mother of one, is presumed dead after she vanished on November 12 2020 – the day after the corporate regulator raided her luxury Dover Heights home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The remains of her foot washed up on a NSW beach in February this year.
“We have taken the first steps to commence taking possession of and realising assets of Ms Caddick and the company controlled by her,” Jones Partners said in a statement on Thursday.
“We can confirm we have given such notice to various family members of Ms Caddick and will be notifying other parties over the coming days.”
The affected parties have 15 business days to object to Jones Partners taking possession of, or realising, those assets.
Ms Caddick’s assets include real estate, shares and other items.
The assets of Maliver include motor vehicles and other items.
There’s also a possible financial claim against the Australian Taxation Office related to taxable income declared by Maliver over many years “which was fictitious”.
The Federal Court on Monday declared Ms Caddick had provided unlicensed financial advice between 2012 and 2020 and ordered her company Maliver be wound up.
From October 2012, she collected more than $30 million from 72 investors, most of whom were family and friends and all of whom expected their funds would be invested on their behalf.
“Instead, (the funds) were used to meet Ms Caddick’s personal expenses and purchase assets in her name,” Justice Markovic said on Monday.
She would convince potential investors of her prowess in creating wealth, interview them and advise them of an investment strategy.
Based on the liquidators’ report, the court found investors were owed $23,554,921.
Maliver, whose sole director was Ms Caddick, traded on another person’s Australian Financial Services Licence.
Neither the company nor Ms Caddick ever held an AFSL while providing a financial service, in breach of the Corporations Act, the judge found.
Her parents are among those making claims, after handing their daughter $1.03 million on the understanding they would own part of an Edgecliff home and, importantly, have life tenancy.
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
