Sunday, November 20, 2016

Legal firms caught up in CCC raids, probe

Latest: Corruption and Money Laundering.

Legal firms caught up in CCC raids, probe.


SENIOR legal figures, including several of the state’s high-profile lawyers, have been embroiled in a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into alleged money laundering.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the anti-corruption ­agency is investigating allegations against four criminal law firms and numerous solicitors who have been placed under surveillance, interviewed and had their homes raided.
The allegations being investigated involve more than 20 former colleagues, associates and clients of Brisbane law firm Bosscher Lawyers. But it is understood the CCC investigation that started with raids on the firm in September has now widened.
It is understood some of the claims come from solicitor Tim Meehan, a former lawyer at Bosscher Lawyers, who was sacked after 16 years amid ­accusations he stole more than $160,000 from the firm with the help of a mistress. There is no suggestion that any allegations have been substantiated.
Sources close to the investigation describe it as “massive” and “like nothing the profession has seen before” with claims including alleged criminals paying for legal ­services in cash that was not properly declared.
Most of the people being investigated are ex-clients of Mr Meehan and have been named in search warrants.
However, others are leading Queensland legal figures.
Tim Meehan was fired from Bosscher Lawyers amid accusations he stole more than $160,000 from the firm.
Mr Meehan, who represented Daniel Morcombe’s killer Brett Cowan, handed in his practising certificate and in early September Bosscher Lawyers filed an injunction accusing him of stealing the money and depositing it in his own accounts with the help of a clerk amid sensational claims the pair were having an affair and hiding cash.
The clerk, 24-year-old Xanthe Larcombe-Weate, was dismissed on the same day — just months before she was due to be admitted as a lawyer.
Bosscher Lawyers filed documents in the Supreme Court alleging the pair created fake invoices, offered to meet ­clients for late-night cash drops and collected money hidden under office keyboards. They had a long-running affair, with a series of explicit text messages filed in the court.
Shortly after the injunction was filed, Mr Meehan and his wife had their property and cars frozen by the courts. However, that order has since been vacated by agreement between the two parties.
Bosscher Lawyers this week made a formal complaint of fraud against Mr Meehan to the state’s fraud squad.
Police load items from Bosscher Lawyers into a van.
In mid-September, police and the CCC raided Bosscher Lawyers’ offices in Brisbane and took boxes of documents, computer equipment and bins and later confirmed an investigation had begun.
Since then, lawyers suspect their phones have been tapped and offices bugged in an investigation that’s become the talk of the legal community.
It can also be revealed ­numerous members of an ­alleged crime family have been interviewed by the CCC during the investigation headed up by executive director of crime Kathleen Florian. The family members have been questioned about whether they were involved in providing misleading information to Queensland courts.
It is understood the CCC raided the home of a family member of one judicial officer.
A “cash dog” was even brought in to sniff out hidden money but nothing was found.
“The investigation remains ongoing, therefore the CCC cannot ... comment,” a CCC spokesperson said when provided with a list of allegations.
Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath referred The Courier-Mail to the CCC when asked about the allegations. “I understand there are matters being addressed by the CCC, and any questions should therefore be addressed to the CCC — as such, it is ­inappropriate for the Attorney-General to comment,” she said.
It is understood Michael Bosscher, boss of Bosscher Lawyers, has not been interviewed by the CCC. Pic: Liam Kidston
The Courier-Mail could not contact Mr Meehan, previously a high-profile solicitor who made numerous public statements during his role in defending Cowan. His solicitor Peter Shields declined to comment.
It is understood Michael Bosscher, boss of Bosscher Lawyers, has not been interviewed by the CCC but he said he was co-operating fully.
The Queensland Law Society, responsible for overseeing practising certificates for all solicitors, said its investigation of Bosscher Lawyers’ trust accounts was ongoing.
Queensland Police Service officers at Bosscher Lawyers.
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