The mystery surrounding the disappearance of former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers’ ex-husband has been solved after concerns grew over his safety.
Justin McKeone disappeared last month amid claims he stole almost $500,000 while working as a finance manager at a Melbourne company.
According to our documents, he allegedly stole $481,490.33 from his employer during his five-month tenure as head of finance at Rocket Brands (Cozmic Sales Pty Ltd).
The 37-year-old was due to appear in the Supreme Court of Victoria on December 5 to respond to a civil application to impose a freezing order on his assets, but he failed to show up.
The court heard that McKeone had not contacted his lawyers since November 11, when he was contacted by lawyers acting on behalf of his former employer.
McKeone has not publicly responded to the allegations and has set a new Instagram account to private.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal McKeone has packed his bags and traveled across the country to his home state of Western Australia.
Court documents show he now lives in Scarborough, northeast of Perth.
Justin McKeone in happier days with ex-wife former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers
He has also engaged major Melbourne law firm Galbally & O’Bryan, the same firm representing the man accused of murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.
McKeone is believed to be linked to The Bachelor Australia 2021’s Tahnee Leeson, who was in an on-again, off-again relationship with him following his split from Molly Rogers.
She denied being back together with McKeone when questioned about it in July, telling reporters she was “just friends” with him.
However, the couple now appears to be in love in photos that Leeson posted on her Instagram page a few days ago.
In them, McKeon appeared fit, healthy and happy, although it remains unclear when exactly they were taken.
McKeone’s move to engage the law firm followed a court decision to impose a freezing order on his assets after he failed to appear in court.
In bizarre circumstances, the court heard McKeone had to be contacted via social media or email in an attempt to give him a chance to argue his case.
The court had already ordered a freeze on McKeone’s assets, totaling an amount that Rocket Brands claimed he stole between May 23 and October 6.
That order was set to expire weeks ago, but was extended in McKeone’s absence.
The court heard McKeone, who once worked with Melbourne’s high society, had limited access to $800 a week for living expenses and $10,000 to pay any legal fees.
Tahnee Leeson (left) from Bachelor Australia 2021 posted this photo of herself and McKeone a few days ago
Justin McKeone and ex-wife former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers
McKeone joined Rocket Brands in March this year with an annual salary of $200,000. But just weeks into his probation, employees reportedly expressed concerns about his erratic behavior.
An affidavit filed in court by Rocket Brands director Matthew Holmes claims other employees told him McKeone “slept in the work bathrooms for up to four hours a day,” took excessively long lunch breaks and often left the office without his complete work. his duties.
Court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia claim McKeone admitted to the theft when confronted by Holmes in mid-October.
During the meeting, McKeone admitted that he had embezzled the money to finance “a very serious drug habit.” told Holmes he would “do his best” to repay the company.
At this month’s hearing, lawyer Kieren Hickie of Rocket Brands called on the court to extend the freezing order to any international assets that McKeone may have hidden abroad.
The court heard that McKeone had failed to comply with a ‘disclosure notice’ due on November 24, despite assurances that he would engage a lawyer to act on his behalf.
Rocket Brands asked Judge Peter Gray to grant an interim order – a non-final judgment that resolves part of a claim or other issue without deciding the entire case – reimbursing the full amount and its legal costs.
“My client is seeking to move forward by seeking an interim judgment against the defendant to determine damages,” Mr Hickie said.
Olivia Molly Rogers (pictured) is not in contact with her estranged husband Justin McKeone
Justin McKeone (left) puts his arm around former Masterchef contestant Khanh Ong. Tahnee Leeson of Bachelor Australia 2021, who posted the image a few days ago, is dressed in red
The company also requested that legal costs be borne by McKeone – a request that was later granted.
“We are here today, it is clear that the defendant is in default in filing any appearance. “It would be the just, timely and cost-effective resolution of this dispute for an interim order to be entered,” Mr Hickie said.
Court documents allege McKeone disguised 114 unauthorized transactions as legitimate payments to suppliers, funneling company money into his personal bank account to allegedly fund a drug addiction.
According to court documents, McKeone allegedly used his exclusive access to Rocket’s financial systems to authorize and process the payments.
The affidavit alleges McKeone manipulated invoices to show payments to suppliers such as ‘Storage King’ and ‘Net Focus IT’, while diverting money into his own Westpac account.
Screenshots submitted to the court reportedly show McKeone editing and approving these allegedly fraudulent transactions using the Xero software program. Holmes told the court he had not approved any of these payments.
The alleged embezzlement was reportedly hidden in Rocket’s financial statements under the guise of “historical adjustments” totaling $310,878, further complicating the company’s efforts to identify the missing funds.
Justin McKeone proposes to former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers
Holmes reported the alleged theft to Victoria police on October 14.
Detectives from the Yarra Crime Investigation Unit interviewed McKeone on November 6, but no criminal charges have been laid as the investigation continues.
In the civil case, Rocket Brands is seeking full restitution and has accused McKeone of breaching his duties as a senior manager.
The company has described its alleged actions in court documents as calculated and damaging, claiming that the alleged theft caused significant financial losses.
The lawsuit states that McKeone’s actions were allegedly a “gross breach of trust” and that the company is “unable to accept [his] statement’ that he no longer has any money in his accounts.
Olivia Molly Rogers, who divorced McKeone last year, has not commented on the lawsuit.
Judge Gray extended the freezing order until April next year, and the case is now expected to go to trial.