Eels Salary Cap MK IV

[caylo]

I remember something about fictional invoices for h/t entertainment

 

[Jake the snake]

Here's one for you El Dicko and your dirty gang of 5, it's just so sad that you still continue to support the people that have brought this club to its knees. Just disgraceful!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne.../news-story/7dc251f4704b4075265cee3f4035b544A


Fraud Squad begins formal investigation of Dodgy Deels third-party payment claims

NSW Police have raised the stakes in the Eels salary cap scandal, with the head of the Fraud Squad yesterday escalating a criminal investigation over dodgy invoices at the club.

Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis told Parramatta officials he had launched the investigation after reviewing the NRL’s breach notices to the club. It can also be revealed Liquor and Gaming NSW has stepped up its inquiry into the club in recent days.

There is no suggestion that any player past or present has done anything wrong.

There are suggestions police may have been at the club for up to 48 hours. A police spokesman confirmed “an investigation has commenced”.

The move came two days after a Supreme Court action over the NRL’s breach notices by the Eels’ “Gang of Five” — Steve Sharp, John Boulous, Tom Issa, Peter Serrao and Daniel Anderson — failed.

News of the fraud investigation follows revelations in The Telegraph’s Dodgy Deels series that the scandal-hit club used multiple bogus contracts and invoices to cover up some secret third-party payments.

Boardroom tapes contained in the NRL’s breach notice *revealed concern among Eels directors about some invoices.


At one point, Eels chairman Steve Sharp explained to the board how the club was making a TPA to Anthony Watmough through inflated invoices.

“So she was going to increase her charges to us. So we are paying the third-party deal,” he said. Fellow director Tanya Gadiel responded: “Sorry, that’s the f-word, that’s fraud, isn’t it? That is fraud.”

Sharp replied: “It’s not fraud.” Fellow director Andrew Cordwell responded: “It’s certainly fudging the figures.”

Former Parramatta player Daniel Harrison received large secret payments from suppliers who issued inflated invoices to the Eels. He was allegedly paid tens of thousands of dollars by

Company as part of a third-party deal when he left the club. The payments formed part of a package that saw Harrison, who now plays for the London Broncos, depart the Eels in 2014 to Manly.

Insiders said payments were made by the Eels to Zibara in 2014, despite receiving no goods or services in exchange.

The questions to be asked by the Fraud Squad is if any behaviour of this kind is criminal.

One avenue of inquiry is “false pretences” provisions of the NSW Crimes Act, which looks at whether someone “obtains from any person any property, with intent to defraud”.

An “Undisclosed Payment Register” revealed by The Telegraph listed hidden third-party payments made to 25 past and present Eels players over a five-year period, from the start of 2014 to the end of the 2018, in breach of the salary cap.

 

[Last Week]

Yeah, except there's no victim so there's no fraud committed. All parties involved and suffered no financial loss. Police won't give a shit.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Yeah, except there's no victim so there's no fraud committed. All parties involved and suffered no financial loss. Police won't give a shit.

Really? It is still potentially misappropriation of leagues club funds. Knowingly entering into an arrangement where inflated invoices are going to be generated and paid could certainly result in charges. And, if allegedly cheating the cap in the manner described above gives one club a greater chance of winning the premiership than if they hadn't cheated, what does that do other club's chances of winning the premiership? If I use deception to rig a lottery draw in my favour, have I not harmed the interests of the other people who bought tickets?

It may all come to nothing, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

As Gronk says above, more a concern for the individuals involved than the club going forward.

 

[hineyrulz]

And for Daniel Harrsion???

Jesus H Christ what Dafaq????

 

[oldmancraigy]

SK has an eye for talent Hiney

 

[EelsFan05]

And for Daniel Harrsion???

Jesus H Christ what Dafaq????

Exactly!

 

[strider]

Taking 30k of any top 25 players salary off the books is just as valuable for paying hayne/foran/whoever a million under the cap as taking any superstars salary off the books

Do you think the broncos dont manage to give every merkin on their roster some TPAs?

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...e/news-story/bfe99bf1e9e6fea199d135226310e7f4

Parramatta police probe data to form part of cap-breach defence

The Australian
12:00AM June 10, 2016

Brent Read
Senior sports writer
Sydney

The information that has prompted a police investigation into Parramatta is expected to form a crucial part of the Eels’ defence to allegations of salary cap rorting when they submit their response to the NRL today.

NSW police yesterday confirmed they had opened an investigation into the Eels after receiving a copy of the report into the allegations that have led to the NRL threatening to dock the club 12 premiership points.

It is understood the report was forwarded to the police by the NSW Liquor and Gaming Authority, which had received a copy of the breach notice from the NRL.

The Australian understands current Eels board members also passed on information to the police after receiving additional evidence from the NRL in relation to the activities of a former employee.

The involvement of the police — it is understood the Fraud and Cyber Crime Squad is in charge of the investigation — represents a serious escalation in the matter and comes as the club prepares to respond to a series of allegations made by the NRL concerning salary cap breaches of up to $3 million over the past four years.

It is understood the involvement of the police ramped up on Wednesday, when members of the fraud squad began making inquiries at the Parramatta Leagues Club and the Liquor and Gaming Authority stepped up its investigation.

“Following a review of the report that was given to us, an investigation has now commenced,” a police spokesperson said.

“At this stage, no further information is available.”

While the initial NRL breach notice raised alerts with the Liquor and Gaming Authority and the police, The Australian was told that the four remaining Parramatta board members had also insisted on the fraud squad becoming involved after receiving further data in recent weeks.

That information prompted the club to seek an extension in the time it had to respond to the NRL — the initial deadline was last week but the club asked for an extra week, which is due to expire tomorrow.

Chairman Steve Sharp, board members Tom Issa and Peter Serrao, chief executive John Boulous and head of football operations Daniel Anderson — all of whom have been provisionally suspended over their role in the salary cap saga — have already submitted their individual responses to the NRL.

There is no suggestion any of the five were involved in any acts of fraud. However, amid the documents that formed part of the breach notice was a recording of a board meeting where the issue of fraud was discussed in relation to invoices which formed part of the allegations.

One board member at that meeting asked whether the information could be a matter of fraud, to which another replied that it was not. Regardless, the involvement of NSW police represents a significant development in an ugly affair that had appeared close to its conclusion.

With the club to formally respond to the allegations today, the NRL was expected to hand down a final decision on the sanctions against the Eels within the fortnight — as well as the loss of 12 premiership points, the club is facing a $1 million fine and the officials involved are facing bans. However, the NRL sanctions may not be the end of the matter as the police zero in on the club and the activities that have decimated their season.

The Eels, who will play Gold Coast in Darwin tomorrow night, have been inundated with drama in recent weeks, with captain Kieran Foran taking a break to undergo rehabilitation and five-eighth Corey Norman charged with drug possession.

#STANDBYSHARPY

 

[Gronk]

Reading between the lines, the GO5 insist that most of the shit that went down was by a rogue CEO. Hence why they are happy for the fraud squad to review the evidence as they must think that it strengthens their position.

 

[hineyrulz]

A rogue wet behind the ears CEO that they hired and then let do as he pleased.


A best they will be found derelict of their duty.

 

[strider]

I honestly think all the wonderful transcripts revealed was that seward was the dude who did it all - possibly on the advice of his now high ranking friend

The 5 merkins are guilty of not reporting it to the NRL and gross neglect letting him do it without knowing until afterwards

I find it interesting even this article wont name Seward ... how f**kin protected is he?

 

[IFR33K]

So what if the police investigation leads to SS being charged with fraud, and nothing towards the GO5????? Wouldn't that be contradicting to the NRL's investigation, as SS seems to be their unsung hero.

 

[Last Week]

Really? It is still potentially misappropriation of leagues club funds. Knowingly entering into an arrangement where inflated invoices are going to be generated and paid could certainly result in charges.

It's a massive stretch. It's club money making it way to club staff (players) through an outside party. There's no loss of funds as it was the club doing it with their own money. Unless they're seriously going to try and pin it on one person and try and have him cop it all. Which I seriously doubt will fly. All that person needs to show is that they had approval from the board, which transcripts seem to indicate.

And, if allegedly cheating the cap in the manner described above gives one club a greater chance of winning the premiership than if they hadn't cheated, what does that do other club's chances of winning the premiership? If I use deception to rig a lottery draw in my favour, have I not harmed the interests of the other people who bought tickets?

It may all come to nothing, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

As Gronk says above, more a concern for the individuals involved than the club going forward.

So the victim of it would be the other 15 clubs? (this is essentially challenging the salary cap itself) There would be no way in hell to prove that the breaches made had even a minute impact on the competition other than the image of integrity. Especially considering other variables that there are already, legally, affecting the competitions outcome.

Besides, there are far more expensive frauds going on in the business world. The fraud squad already have their hands full with the massive increase in frauds going on with real people as victims, not the integrity of a sporting competition. Especially when there's a governing body (NRL) that can adjudicate it.

This isn't a criminal matter. I can see the ATO and the Gaming and Licensing Authority taking a bit of an interest, but there's nothing here that should be investigated for a criminal offence.

 

[Gronk]

I think there is no doubt that the GO5 unearthed massive shit and chose to try and fix it without reporting it. So dodgy TPAs to be replaced by legit ones etc. Yes they shoukd have reported it.

Their plan was that by 2016 all the books woukd be sweet and compliant. What they didn't count on was a rat in the ranks.

 

[Bigfella]

Lol "no doubt".

Gronk is running through pixieland gently tossing flowers to the fairies.

None of that will be an excuse anyway.

Small matters of their duties as directors and their obligations to the nrl.

Covering up criminal acts can be criminal conduct in a wide range of circumstances.

It's not that long since you were giving Seward the all clear now he's the devil incarnate. When are you going to come down to planet earth?

 

[The EELiminator]

i have to agree they should have reported it the day they found out

 

[IFR33K]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Not sure if self reporting was the answer.

Warriors self reported and still copped a four point penalty. Broncos/Andrew Gee failed to comply with the NRL and they went unpunished.

#levelplayingfield

 

[Gronk]

Lol "no doubt".

Gronk is running through pixieland gently tossing flowers to the fairies.

None of that will be an excuse anyway.

Small matters of their duties as directors and their obligations to the nrl.

Covering up criminal acts can be criminal conduct in a wide range of circumstances.

It's not that long since you were giving Seward the all clear now he's the devil incarnate. When are you going to come down to planet earth?

As usual the Three Amigos try very hard to suggest that I am somehow supporting the GO5 or promoting a nothing-to-see-here-position.

Nice try, but I'm not. Hows about actually reading what i post instead of seeing what i say as an opportunity for a sledge ?

The GO5's actions + the former CEO + former merkins under Spag's watch have f**ked us royally either through incompetence or downright Fat Tony tactics. I will be so happy when 2016 is behind us and we (hopefully) have a bunch of boring business types who can steer us into the right direction with a solid plan, without feeling the need to take shortcuts for short term gain.

 

[strider]

So what if the police investigation leads to SS being charged with fraud, and nothing towards the GO5????? Wouldn't that be contradicting to the NRL's investigation, as SS seems to be their unsung hero.

No the nrl revolves around self reporting. So we are guilty of that.

Of course so is just about every nrl club - they just dont have dobbers