Toorak-based Roxanne Kekatos, 38, has come under scrutiny after her Melbourne security company, Arrow Security Group, ceased trading, with corporate records indicating the business operated with minimal capital during its short existence.
Kekatos had recruited Brooke and Munro to lead her security company. In an investigation with A Current Affair, the pair detailed the promises made to them and their growing realisation about the company’s legitimacy.
“We were told there were supposed to be over 7000 employees,” said Brooke, who was also promised a $250,000 salary and company vehicle.
Brooke, who had considered Kekatos a close friend, said doubts began to emerge as inconsistencies surfaced. To bolster the company’s credibility, Kekatos claimed Arrow Security was financially backed by Sydney-based investor Kurt Wilkinson of Arrow Capital Partners.
“Some things weren’t adding up but when I’m getting an email that looks like a legitimate Kurt email address sent to Roxanne and then forwarded to me, I kind of didn’t have any reason to question,” Brooke said.
However, the real Wilkinson later confirmed to A Current Affair that the email exchanges were fabricated. His lawyer, Paul FC McGirr, said, “My client (Arrow Capital) does not nor has it ever had any involvement or affiliation with Arrow Security Group Australia Pty Ltd.”
Further claims by Kekatos of partnerships with major companies including Westfield and MyChemist were also called into question. Both companies stated they never had any dealings with Kekatos.
“We’d never suspect it went that deep in terms of the level she’d go to lying, not only to us but everyone involved,” Munro said.
Another supplier, Guardhouse, alleged it received just $20 from Kekatos despite being provided with an ANZ payment receipt for $369,600.
Kekatos has left a string of failed businesses behind her and several of them were security firms. She was also a director of two companies that owed more than $1 million to the Australian Taxation Office. Earlier this year she was sued along with her partner for more than $2.4 million in damages after they allegedly failed to repay 18 loans transferred to them by engineer and fellow school parent.
Following a complaint from Brooke and other staff left without jobs, Victoria Police assessed the matter but declined to take any action against Kekatos.
“The matter has been assessed by police, including specialists from the Financial Crime Squad, and no criminal offences were detected… The incident has been deemed a civil matter and the complainant advised,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
Brooke has launched legal proceedings against Kekatos over unpaid wages while another former worker secured a Federal Court judgement for unpaid wages against Kekatos, Arrow Security and her husband, who was listed as a company director. Court documents show neither party appeared or engaged in the proceedings.
Kekatos declined to answer questions from A Current Affair, stating only that she has been the target of a “personal vendetta.”
Source: Nine News
