Worldclear looks to have pinned down all but $720,000 of the $4.6 million former employee Richard Witham is alleged to have stolen when fleeing the country in May 2018 for Singapore. Witham is under arrest in Singapore.
Hamilton-based financial service provider Worldclear Ltd was thrown into a spin when it found Mr Witham had disappeared after locking down online access to company bank accounts. Frantic inquiries identified he had shifted Worldclear funds across to his own bank accounts and left the country with his family. Within 24 hours, Worldclear’s dropbox account was being accessed from Singapore and company files systematically deleted. In a hurried court application, Worldclear had freezing orders imposed on all assets Mr Whitlam may have in New Zealand. The High Court was told some $3.45 million has either been recovered or frozen as a result of the court order.
Worldclear is back in court. More detective work has discovered about $435,000 held in a BNZ account in the name of Retail Guru Ltd. Richard and Erika Witham are majority shareholders. Their company is in liquidation. The $435,000 is a debt owed to Worldclear, the High Court ruled. Retail Guru’s liquidation report discloses that Mr Witham has been arrested in Singapore where he faces criminal charges. There is also an arrest warrant issued by New Zealand authorities.
Worldclear Ltd v. T1 Holdings Ltd – High Court (30.10.18)
18.217