NRL told of Eels’ fears of blackmail over prostitutes
- The Australian
- 12:00AM July 13, 2016
A key figure in the Parramatta salary cap scandal told NRL investigators he feared he was going to be the subject of blackmail attempts after
rumours emerged of visits to prostitutes and employees being groped on the Eels’ fact-finding mission to Seattle.
Deputy chairman Tom Issa, who had his registration cancelled by the NRL following the investigation into the salary cap scandal, spoke to head of integrity Nick Weeks and senior investigator Karyn Murphy in April. He was questioned about allegations the club had used the trip to Seattle to finance contentious third-party payments through dodgy invoices.
In his transcript of interview — obtained by
The Australian with more than 700 pages of statements and transcripts from other key figures in the inquiry— Mr Issa confirmed officials had become suspicious of invoices that the NRL alleges were used to circumvent the salary cap by generating cash which was paid to players and managers.
“We found that the invoices looked like they had been tampered with, so that was alarming,” Mr Issa said.
“That wasn’t something that I had seen previously. Again, they were under delegated authority. We never saw invoices, we never had suspicions to go and audit them. But subsequently ... we have done that and it looks like there has been some invoice tampering. To do what with, to do how, I don’t know.”
Asked why he had contacted one of the club’s key suppliers on his return from Seattle, Mr Issa said: “But that wasn’t around invoices, that was around blackmail. So there’s been some allegations that I’ve gone on a trip, Seattle trip, and there’s been groped employees and prostitutes and all kind of shit.
“So I just wanted to know where that was coming from. As I said, there’s no text messages but there is a couple of phone calls and I did meet up with him. That was around, as I said, that kind of allegation, but not invoices and what was supplied and what wasn’t supplied ...”
The Eels were docked 12 premiership points and five key officials — Mr Issa and chairman Steve Sharp, director Peter Serrao, chief executive John Boulous and head of football Daniel Anderson — had their registration cancelled after the NRL completed an extensive review into third-party payments at the club.
The Parramatta Leagues Club board, including Mr Sharp, met on Monday to discuss their next move, and are expected to make a decision on an appeal today, having received a copy of the NRL’s final decision only yesterday.
The NRL’s allegations against the club hinged to a large extent on the evidence of former chief executive Scott Seward and ex-football manager Jason Irvine, the central parties in the production of false invoices and distribution of money to the players.
It is alleged that suppliers would produce inflated invoices for merchandise or services provided to the club. The Eels would then pay the supplier the invoiced amount but receive cash back for the inflated amount. That money would then be paid to the players.
As part of their response to the NRL, the Eels claimed Mr Seward’s evidence on balance did not demonstrate that the club or officials had knowledge of his actions.
