Mr Richard Ludwig of Broadbeach Waters Queensland, Mr Stephen O’Neill of Port Melbourne, Victoria and Mr John Narramore, of Main Beach Queensland, have appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on charges that include breaching director duties and dealing in the proceeds of crime.

The charges follow an ASIC investigation into the affairs of Cap Coast Telecoms Pty Ltd and its former director, Richard Ludwig.

It is alleged that Mr Ludwig sought advice from Messers O’Neill and  Narramore of pre-insolvency firm SME’s R Us, following a dispute he was having with a creditor of the company. It is alleged that Messers O’Neill and Narramore facilitated Mr Ludwig to illegally remove a total of $743,050 of company money between October 2014 and January 2015 to accounts in their control. It is alleged that the three men acted jointly to remove the money before the company was wound up in liquidation. 

Following the removal of the company money, it is alleged that a large portion of the money was redirected back to Mr Ludwig and that Messers  O’Neill and Narramore retained a portion of the money.

Mr Ludwig has been charged with ten counts of breaching his director duties and one count of dealing in the proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more, while Mr O’Neill and Mr Narramore have been charged with one count each of dealing in the proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more.

The matter was heard on 1 March 2019. All three men were bailed to return to the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 3 May 2019.

The matter was referred to ASIC by Mark Hutchins of Cor Cordis who is the liquidator of Cap Coast Telecoms Pty Ltd.

The matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

Background

Breaching director duties is an offence under the Corporations Act and carries a penalty of 2000 penalty units or imprisonment for five years, or both.

Dealing with the proceeds of crime is an offence under the Criminal Code (Clth) 1995 and carries a penalty of 1200 penalty units or imprisonment for 20 years, or both.

Editor's note 1:

Following a mention on 3 May 2019, the matter was adjourned for further mention until 31 May 2019.

Editor's note 2:

The mention scheduled for 31 May was vacated after registry committals were processed for all three defendants. The matters will proceed for trial on a date to be fixed.

Editor's note 3:

Following a mention in the Brisbane District Court on 5 September 2019, Mr Narramore pleaded guilty to one breach of s400.4(2) of the Criminal Code Act for intentionally dealing in proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more.

Mr Narramore’s matter has been listed for sentence on 12 November 2019 in the Brisbane District Court.  

Mr Ludwig and Mr O’Neill were granted an adjournment until 3 October 2019.

Editor’s note 4:

Mr Narramore was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with a non-parole period of 20 months (19-307MR).

Editor’s note 5:

Mr Ludwig was charged with one count of intentionally dealing in proceeds of crime and 10 counts of breaching his directors’ duties. He is yet to enter a plea and is due to appear in the Brisbane District Court on 9 December 2019. Refer 19-276MR for further updates about Mr Ludwig.

Editor's note 6:

In February 2020, Mr O’Neill was sentenced at Brisbane District Court to five years in prison with a non-parole period of 22 months, after pleading guilty to one charge of dealing in the proceeds of crime (20-050MR).