News: Man who donated money to Sharks to be arrested over alleged insurance fraud

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<strong style="display: block">POLICE are about to arrest Clint Elford, Cronulla's would-be benefactor, on suspicion of obtaining money through deception.</strong>

<a href="http://www.silvertails.net/news/3985-man-who-donated-money-to-sharks-to-be-arrested-over-alleged-insurance-fraud.html">Read the full article</a>
 
I'm sure the cops are delighted at media outlets reporting an arrest ostensibly before it happens.  Why aren't the NRL fining the Sharks 6 figure sums for bringing the game into disrepute?
 
Has anyone else noticed that the Sharks seem to have more than their fair share of loony supporters?  This guy seems like he'd blend in with that Luke Covell Supporters club.
 
Cronulla, 'home of the loonies'.  Fraudsters, racists, drunks, drugsters, porn guys, nigglers, the list seems endless. 
 
DSM5 link said:
Cronulla, 'home of the loonies'.  Fraudsters, racists, drunks, drugsters, porn guys, nigglers, the list seems endless. 
  I guess the First Fleet landed nearby.
 
I am sorry but this has to be one of the funniest things i have ever read (talk about due diligence....must have been busy shadow boxing...)
 
It's pretty funny really, not only their players are bringing the game into disrepute, and also their administrators, but even their fans are getting in on the act.

time for a mercy killing of the club? That would be sad but might be fair.
 
Ricky Stuart would be getting nervous right now, there is no-one left at the Sharks to be exposed apart from the coach.

I sure he hasn't done anything wrong (apart fropm his infantile bad-sport intimidation/assault on the world cup ref that is, I mean I hope he hasn't done anything really really wrong..)
 
I am going to laugh myself stupid if Ricky received the 10k for the so called footy camp and equipment purchases. I certainly won't be surprised if secret funds are endemic at the gummies and plenty more will fall on their sword out of this one.

It is also interesting that the only person who stood up to Zappia about the $5k held back from the Guide Dog collection in July last year was Hall, and she got a black eye and dismissal for her trouble.

This has put RL back on the front pages where it belongs. Love it.
 
Former Cronulla Sharks CEO Tony Zappia knew of forgery claims
By Josh Massoud
June 18, 2009

Former Cronulla boss Tony Zappia knew that would-be benefactor Clint Elford was under police investigation when he accepted $30,000 worth of cheques from the alleged fraudster.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper revealed that Zappia received express advice from his lawyer, Pat Agostino, against dealing with Elford in January. Agostino informed Zappia that police were looking into claims of forgery against the 27-year-old, based on a complaint from another solicitor in September 2008.

But despite being warned, Zappia accepted and banked six cheques from Elford that were allegedly sent the following month. Elford was arrested on Tuesday and on Wednesday faced court on three counts of fraud, with police alleging he obtained a $520,000 life insurance payout by deception.

It's now alleged the $30,000 he donated to Cronulla was part of the illegitimate payout, received after Elford allegedly convinced an insurance company that he was dying from the rare terminal neurological disorder Shy Drager Syndrome.

Among the documents allegedly used to support his insurance claim - and representations made to Zappia - was a letter from a law firm based in Castle Hill.

Elford allegedly copied the firm's letterhead and forged the signature of one of its solicitors in written correspondence to Zappia, which informed the then Sharks boss he had been made executor of the Goulburn man's $13.8million estate.

The Daily Telegraph also learned Zappia passed the letter on to Agostino after meeting his lawyer about a separate matter in January.

It's believed Zappia was harbouring doubts about Elford's bona fides after he was made executor without meeting the 27-year-old.

Agostino promptly contacted the Castle Hill firm and was told the letter was a forgery. He was also told the matter had been reported to Castle Hill police on September 24, 2008.

In his next meeting with Zappia, Agostino relayed that information and his concerns.

But Zappia went ahead and accepted all six $5000 cheques Elford allegedly sent to him less than a month later.

Agostino declined to comment on Wednesday, citing solicitor-client privilege. Zappia did not return calls. But sources close to the ex-Sharks boss claimed the near-contemporaneous arrival of the cheques - which were real - countered Agostino's advice and convinced Zappia to maintain contact with Elford. Four cheques were banked into funds belonging to the Beyond Sharks Foundation, a company Zappia established to receive monies from Elford.

The remaining two - made out to Zappia and sent to his home address - were passed on in cash to Sharks coaching staff and spent on a team camp and equipment.
 
The Zapmeister is certainly building up a bit of a stench.......you can only assume that given the circumstances under which he received this money (not to mention him acting contrary to the advice of his counsel) and the interesting way in which he then "held" this money, his actions were far from open and transparent. Couldn't happen to a nicer club, let's hope that he has siphoned off some of this money for some salary cap augmentation and the NRL just drive the final nail into the Shirks' coffin
 
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3 1 2 -5 2
3 1 2 -15 2
3 1 2 -22 2
3 1 2 -36 2
2 0 2 -56 2
3 0 3 -64 0
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