The lead investigator who uncovered Melissa Caddick’s multimillion-dollar fraud claims the conwoman filed her nails and took a nap during the 12-hour raid of her home by ASIC agents and Australian Federal Police officers.
Isabella Allen from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission led the formal investigation into Ms Caddick’s Ponzi scheme from September 8, 2020 – culminating in a raid months later.
She noted Ms Caddick’s strange behaviour when her Dover Heights home was searched by officers on November 11, 2020, just hours before the conwoman vanished the following morning.
Melissa Caddick (pictured) was seen by lead investigator Isabella Allen filing her nails and taking a nap as investigators searched her home
It comes as an inquest into Ms Caddick’s disappearance heard that Ms Allen does not believe the Ms Caddick was tipped off before her house was raided – even though she started shredding documents shortly after the investigation commenced.
On September 14, ASIC conducted a telephone interview with one of her investors, Dominique Ogilvie, about the investigation.
‘We said if (Ms Ogilvie) were to run into Ms Caddick or have subsequent phone calls or speak to her, she could speak to her freely but keep the contents of our conversation confidential,’ Ms Allen said.
Data obtained from Ms Caddick’s mobile phone indicated that she had been searching for shredding services that evening, Ms Allen told the NSW Coroner’s Court on Monday.
A day later she booked the services of Shred-X for business document destruction at her home.
Following the extensive search warrant conducted on November 11 at Ms Caddick’s home, Ms Allen her team looked closely at some of the evidence shredded.
She determined it was not the result of her being ‘tipped off by anyone.’
Meanwhile, her luxurious five-bedroom, four-bathroom eastern suburbs home has come on the market, the prime asset in the estate of Caddick, 49, who disappeared on November 12, 2020.
The Dover Heights mansion boasts uninterrupted and expansive views of Sydney Harbour and a ‘stunning pool’, which receivers hope will fetch at least $10 million.
The conwoman’s home (pictured) was raided by ASIC and the AFP on November 11, 2020. Ms Caddick vanished the following morning
Investigators rummaged through the Dover Heights property for 12 hours. Ms Allen believes Ms Caddick was not tipped off before her house was searched
Bruce Gleeson from Jones Partners, the receivers of Melissa Caddick and liquidators of Maliver, said the sale campaign would be conducted via an expressions of interest until October 31.
‘We are also well advanced and close to finalising an application to the Federal Court which will seek sale orders regarding the designer jewellery, clothing and artworks,’ Mr Gleeson said in a statement on Monday.
The last verified sighting of Ms Caddick was when ASIC and the Australian Federal Police raided her mansion on November 11, 2020.
Ms Caddick’s mother Barbara Grimley holds ASIC responsible for her daughter’s suspected death, saying she was highly distressed during the raid and was not allowed any food or water.
The AFP’s Constable Amelia Griffen shadowed Ms Caddick for the majority of the 12-hour search and confirmed she did make herself food and was allowed to leave the property whenever she wished.
On Monday Const Griffen returned to the witness box and reaffirmed she watched Ms Caddick make herself a protein smoothie in the morning.
‘I recall having a conversation with her that she was free to roam around the premises if she wished to do so, Const Griffen said.
Ms Allen confirmed during the raid Ms Caddick was observed filing her nails ‘from time to time,’ and taking a nap in the afternoon.
Her husband Anthony 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 jog’.
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.
She preyed on mostly friends and family, and stole up to $30 million between 2013 and 2020, counsel assisting Jason Downing SC earlier told the court.
The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan continues.
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