Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

Footage from ASIC raid at Melissa Caddick's home shows envelopes full of foreign cash

Envelopes containing thousands of dollars of foreign currency can be seen in a video of the corporate watchdog's raid on Melissa Caddick's home.

The footage from November 11, 2020 was played on day five of the inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of the Sydney fraudster.

Officers from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) can be seen raiding a safe at her Dover Heights home and covering a table with jewellery boxes, including from high-end brands Canturi and Dior. 

Officers also go through envelopes full of foreign cash, one with ‘USD 4,800’ written on it.

Ms Caddick watches on and describes the items as officers go through them.

She says the jewellery is owned by herself and her husband Anthony Koletti.

“They’re all high value,” Ms Caddick says.

“The necklaces are 80 to 100.”

She vanished just hours after the raid and was reported missing on November 13 — about 30 hours after she was reportedly last seen by Mr Koletti at their eastern suburbs property.

At the time, the 49-year-old was being investigated for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme that took more than $20m from dozens of investors.

Earlier, senior crime scene officer, Ellen Konza, who examined the house and vehicles for three hours on December 2, 2020, told the inquest she had found nothing of interest.

"I saw nothing that indicated any sign of blood, any clean up of blood," she said.

"You found nothing that roused your interest at all?" Counsel Assisting Jason Downing asked.

"No, nothing at all."

Ms Konza told the inquiry she was also looking for any damage or signs of a struggle.

She said Ms Caddick and Mr Koletti's cars had not been cleaned in the 19 days since Ms Caddick was reported missing, and she did not find any evidence of a body being moved in the vehicles.

It was put to Ms Konza that activities of daily living over nearly three weeks may have made it harder to find traces of unusual cleaning activity, to which she agreed.

The examination was carried out after a discussion with the second in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Michael Foscholo.

"I wouldn't say he said they were suspicious (circumstances), but perhaps they could be suspicious," Ms Konza said.

Day five of the inquest is also hearing from Detective Sergeant Foscholo, who was put in charge of the investigation 10 days after Ms Caddick disappeared for a "fresh set of eyes".

That decision was made by Detective Inspector Gretchen Atkins, the crime manager of Eastern Suburbs police, who fronted the inquiry on Thursday.

She agreed at the inquest she had a concern the previous officer in charge (OIC) had a "preconceived idea or theory'".

"Your concern was, in effect, that [the previous OIC] had narrowed his focus that Ms Caddick had gone to ground?" Counsel Assisting Downing put to her.

"Yes," she replied.

This afternoon, the inquest heard that Ms Caddick took a nap during the 12-hour raid on her home in November.

AFP Constable Amelia Griffen, who was the executing officer of a search warrant, said she believed Ms Caddick's behaviour was "normal under the circumstances."

"I only attended two search warrants previously. However … it was normal, she was surprised, shocked, embarrassed by the police presence."

"Did she appear distressed?," Junior Counsel Louise Coleman asked.

"No."

The court heard Constable Griffen saw Ms Caddick lie down for a nap on her bed.

The inquest heard Ms Caddick couldn't recall the password to access the CCTV equipment at the home, so it was removed.

Counsel Assisting Jason Downing told the inquest on Monday concerns had been raised by family members as to “Ms Caddick’s mental state during and immediately after the execution of the search warrant”, and how she and Mr Koletti were "treated by officers". 

The inquest is due to resume later this month.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.