Sydney businesswoman Melissa Caddick was caught forging cheques 20 years ago but was let off

Sydney businesswoman Melissa Caddick was caught forging cheques 20 years before she scammed tens of millions out of investors.

Ms Caddick vanished the day after corporate watchdog ASIC executed a search warrant at her luxury Dover Heights home on November 11.

The 49-year-old mother’s badly decomposed foot washed up in a running shoe on a beach about 400km south of Sydney on February 21.

Liquidators alleged Ms Caddick ‘meticulously and systematically’ deceived those who entrusted millions of investment dollars to her over seven years, then used the money to fund her lavish lifestyle. 

But it has now been revealed the fraudster was caught forging cheques almost two decades earlier – and was let off, Australian Financial Review’s Chanticleer column reported.

Ms Caddick was 29 years old when she was hired by a Sydney fund manager for a clerical job in the back office.

After six months, an accountant advised the fund manager there were several abnormalities in the accounts. 

The cheques were then looked over by the fund manager at the National Australia Bank and two cheques – one worth $5000 and another worth $10,000 – were observed with forged signatures. 

Ms Caddick was asked whether she had forged them and she admitted guilt – but the fund manager decided to let her off. 

She was not reported to police, the fund manager simply asked to leave the job.

Melissa Caddick with her husband Anthony Koletti, who is not accused of any wrongdoing. Caddick used her ill gotten gains to live a lavish lifestyle

The financial adviser then went on to swindle millions of dollars from investors before she vanished from her eastern suburbs mansion.

Despite numerous conspiracy theories about the missing conwoman, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller believes she is dead.

‘There’s always a chance she cut her foot off and is still alive but that’s pretty fanciful but nevertheless we haven’t closed this case,’ he said on Monday.

‘We are still looking for her remains and we’re still looking of where the funds may be.’

Mr Fuller all but dismissed speculation Ms Caddick may have met with foul play.

‘There’s a very slim chance that is the case but we haven’t closed this case,’ he said.

The 49-year-old went missing last November, a day after corporate watchdog ASIC executed a search warrant at her home.

A report released last week into her financial affairs indicated she had likely misappropriated about $25 million of investors’ funds.

Caddick’s decomposed foot was found on the New South Wales South Coast in a rare Asics shoe

The only remains that have been found are her decomposing foot.

‘I’ve never seen someone’s body or body parts wash up 400kms south of Sydney and in reasonably good condition … but that’s not to say it can’t happen,’ Mr Fuller said.

Other bones and remains found on surrounding beaches did not belong to Ms Caddick.

Last week, police divers scanned 6000 sq/km of water off Sydney’s South Head – near Ms Caddick’s Dover Heights home – before the search was called off due to hazardous conditions.

‘No other body parts have been found at this stage,’ Mr Fuller said.

The police are still investigating the case, which has so far identified a possible 68 fraud victims.

‘We feel sorry for them but we are still looking at trying to recover funds and that investigation continues,’ the commissioner said.

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Liquidators alleged Ms Caddick (pictured with her husband) ‘meticulously and systematically’ deceived those who entrusted millions of investment dollars to her over seven years, then used the money to fund her lavish lifestyle