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Caddick’s husband had ‘no idea’ of fraud

Melissa Caddick's husband presents conflicting evidence

Melissa Caddick’s husband says he had no inkling his wife was defrauding family and friends of millions of dollars, nor did he ask her why federal police or the corporate watchdog was suddenly raiding their home.

Anthony Koletti began giving evidence at the NSW Coroners Court on Tuesday at the inquest investigating his wife’s disappearance and suspected death.

Counsel assisting Jason Downing SC asked Mr Koletti if he had been truthful in his statements to police soon after reporting his wife missing.

“Does the truthful answer depend on who is asking it and why?” Mr Downing said.

“No,” Mr Koletti said

Following the 12-hour search involving the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Securities Investment Commission, Mr Koletti said he didn’t ask Ms Caddick what was happening and they just went to bed.

“Are there many truths?” Mr Downing said.

“There is one truth,” Mr Koletti said.

Mr Koletti maintains he has always been truthful but admitted there may have been moments when his “wires were crossed” due to his concern and worry.

Throughout the day he observed his wife “a little bit shaky,” and said she seemed distant and vague, so he offered to make her a coffee.

Mr Downing asked at any point did he ask why ASIC was extensively searching through his wife’s business office and seizing hardware and valuable items.

“No I don’t believe I was really worried about that, at that point in time. I was just under the belief that she had done nothing wrong.”

Mr Koletti agreed the event was abnormal and quite shocking.

“It was certainly a surprise to me,” Mr Koletti said.

The couple was observed on CCTV footage outside in the backyard together seven times without a police officer, Mr Downing said.

Mr Koletti reported the 49-year-old as missing some 30 hours after he says she walked out of their home for the last time on November 12 about 5.30am to go for a walk.

His stories to police about the last time he saw his wife have been inconsistent and subject to intense scrutiny during the inquest.

Earlier the inquest heard from Dominique Ogilvie who had a chance encounter with a woman in August 2020 who asked if she was using Melissa Caddick’s services.

“And I said yes … she said ‘I need to speak with you’.

The pair exchanged phone numbers and Ms Ogilvie – extremely alarmed by her tone – sent a message: “Dying to talk to you.”

By that stage Ms Ogilvie had invested $2.5 million with Ms Caddick’s fake company Maliver.

Later that day the woman revealed Ms Caddick was using her Australian Financial Services Number illegally.

Ms Ogilvie had met the conwoman while holidaying in Aspen Colorado staying in an apartment Ms Caddick claimed to own.

In April she invested $450,000 and the documentation she received purported “good” profit, she said.

Later that month she injected an additional $550,000, followed by $1 million, and other subsequent investments.

“Big birthday present just gone into your account,” she texted Ms Caddick, telling the inquest she was being a “bit smart, sarcastic”.

Ms Ogilvie is one of the few to recoup her money plus an additional purported profit of $380,000.

On September 14 she was formally interviewed by the Australian Securities Investment Commission, but still wasn’t quite sure of the size of the fraud, she said.

She denied ever having told Ms Caddick about the ASIC investigation into her.

In February 2021 Ms Caddick’s decomposing foot encased in an Asics shoe washed ashore at Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast, about 400km south of Sydney.

The inquest continues.

– AAP

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