Police swoop on Sharks Donor !?!

[Slackboy72]

WTF???? Where will this malarky end for the sharks? :crazy:

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqnews/sharks-donor-raid/2009/06/16/1244918028565.html

Police swoop on home of Sharks benefactor

Yuko Narushima | June 16, 2009 - 3:11PM

Police intend to lay fraud charges against a man who says he donated money to the Cronulla Sharks through former chief executive Tony Zappia.
The Sharks board is investigating its football club accounts following new allegations about how Mr Zappia handled money donated by Clint Elford, who is reportedly terminally ill.
This was prompted by a Channel Seven report that revealed a secret $30,000 fund, financed by donations from Mr Elford, who thought his money was going to the club.
But board members and club officials say they knew nothing about the donations nor the foundation through which they were channelled.
Today, eight police officers visited Mr Elford's Goulburn home to charge him with numerous counts of deception relating to fraud and dealing with proceeds of crime.
The Herald understands that the 27-year-old is known to police.
It is also understood that Mr Elford was in Sydney when police arrived at his home.
Police were seen to remove Sharks memorabilia from Mr Elford's home.
A member of the Goulburn community, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Elford was a "very quiet" man.
Channel Seven said Mr Elford's donations went to a foundation set up by Mr Zappia called Beyond Sharks Foundation Limited.
The foundation has no connections to the football club.
Mr Zappia has said that the foundation's money was spent on team camps and football equipment.

 

[Timmah]

So will Channel Seven apologise to Zappia?

Unbloodylikely.

 

[_Johnsy]

I for one am getting sick to death of hearing about Cronulla

 

[Danish]

So will Channel Seven apologise to Zappia?

Unbloodylikely.

Apologise for what exactly?

 

[Snoop]

Will the Sharks apologies to everyone ... for everything.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

So his a crim..... pretending to be terminally ill......

So the sharks were using money from a criminal from crimes.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sharkies, solid gold fellas.

 

[Timmah]

Apologise for what exactly?

Good point Never mind.

 

[BrisVegas]

http://www.rabbitohs.com/warren/showthread.php?p=70213#post70213

Man who donated money to Sharks to be arrested over alleged insurance fraud

Exclusive by Josh Massoud | June 16, 2009 03:10pm

POLICE are about to arrest Clint Elford, Cronulla's would-be benefactor, on suspicion of obtaining money through deception.

The 27-year-old is set to be taken into custody in Sydney, where he was understood to be meeting with Channel Seven.

Detectives hold grave fears that Elford obtained the $30,000 he passed onto Cronulla through forged documents used to claim health insurance.

Armed with a search warrant, Goulburn detectives visited Elford’s home this afternoon. But the 27-year-old – who claims to be suffering from terminal neurological disease Shy Dragers Syndrome – had fled to Sydney.

There are now deep suspicions he is not terminally ill, but instead forged doctors signatures to obtain health insurance earlier this year. Elford used that money to donate $30,000 to Cronulla, via the Beyond Sharks Foundation. He dealt directly with former CEO Tony Zappia, who did not inform his board of the foundation or $30,000 donations.

Elford also made Zappia the sole executor of his estate, claiming it was worth $13.8 million in life insurance benefits.

This just keeps getting more and more bizarre.

I've also heard it reported, but can't find it online as yet, that the insurance company has terminated Mr Elford's insurance policy due to suspicion of fraud.

So not only will the millions promised to the Sharks not eventuate, but could the Sharks be held liable for accepting money obtained through illegal channels? Or are the Sharks thanking their lucky stars that Zappia conducted this business without the boards knowledge, thereby insulating the club from the worst of the fallout?

No wonder the bloke was so keen on his identity being kept a secret.

 

[Follow Me Up To Carlton]

Police intend to lay fraud charges against a man who says he donated money to the Cronulla Sharks through former chief executive Tony Zappia.

The man, Clint Elford, was understood to have been arrested in Sydney today while he was being interviewed by Channel Seven.

The Sharks board is investigating its football club accounts following new allegations about how Mr Zappia handled money donated by Mr Elford, who is reportedly terminally ill.

The investigation was prompted by a Channel Seven report, which revealed a secret $30,000 fund, financed by donations from Mr Elford, who thought his money was going to the club.

But board members and club officials say they knew nothing about the donations nor the foundation through which they were channelled.

Today, eight police officers visited Mr Elford's Goulburn home to charge him with numerous counts of deception relating to fraud and dealing with proceeds of crime.

The Herald understands that the 27-year-old is known to police.. Police were seen to remove Sharks memorabilia from Mr Elford's home. A member of the Goulburn community, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Elford was a "very quiet" man.

Channel Seven said Mr Elford's donations went to a foundation set up by Mr Zappia called Beyond Sharks Foundation Limited.

The foundation has no connections to the football club.
Mr Zappia has said the foundation's money was spent on team camps and football equipment.

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqnews/sharks-donor-raid/2009/06/16/1244918028565.html

lol, all the evidence that's needed. "Take him away boys..."

 

[Slackboy72]

Gee, maybe Jacquelin Magnay was right when she said the $20,000 payment was the tip of the iceberg.

 

[myanonymoususername]

Apologise for what exactly?

My thoughts exactly. What have they got to apologise for?

 

[Timmah]

My thoughts exactly. What have they got to apologise for?

Well done for reading the whole thread dunce:

Good point Never mind.

:thumb

 

[Different kind of Rabbit]

Perhaps they should just set up a Police station in Cronulla Leagues club. The club would benefit from leasing out part of their building and the Cops won't have so far to travel whenever they have to conduct an investigation.

 

[Slackboy72]

It would be interesting to know if the sharks were liable to re-pay any money.
Any criminal lawyers here know what precedents there are regarding receiving proceeds of crime unknowingly? (I am of course assuming Zappia is innocent in this alleged case of fraud)

 

[myanonymoususername]

Well done for reading the whole thread dunce:

:thumb

Oh piss off - your post wasn't there when I started mine. ok.

 

[Raider_69]

:lol: And well done to you Tim Tam for failing to comprehend the story to begin with.

It really is sh*tting down rain on the sharkies isnt it?
It just keeps going and going

 

[myanonymoususername]

This whole Sharks sh*t is just pure comedy gold. You couldn't script it better.

I hope no-one on the Sharks board and management actually was getting paid any sort of salary or allowance while all these misadventures were happening. Their performance has been totally amateur on all fronts. :lol:

 

[dannyboy]

:lol: And well done to you Tim Tam for failing to comprehend the story to begin with.

It really is sh*tting down rain on the sharkies isnt it?
It just keeps going and going

Yeah....acid rain

 

[Slackboy72]

Look, I don't like them, I don't hate them, I just find them annoying.
But there are a lot of well intentioned people down there trying their best to deal with the best of a bad lot. I do feel sorry for those people who have had to watch Zappia sh*t all over their club.

 

[RedAndWhiteThommo]

No wonder he wanted to remain anonymous.