NSW Police announced on Friday that it had confirmed human remains found at Bournda Beach on the far south coast belonged to Ms Caddick, who was under investigation by the corporate regulator for giving advice without a licence.
Since the announcement, a number of other remains have been found in neighbouring south coast towns that could also be linked to the case, as police expand their search area and wait to confirm DNA testing results.
ASIC said despite Ms Caddick being assumed to be deceased, the case against her in the Federal Court would continue with a view to returning investor funds, in an alleged fraud estimated to be worth at least $20 million.
“Following the announcement by the NSW Police that the remains of Ms Caddick have been identified, ASIC notes that its investigation into Ms Caddick and her company, Maliver Pty Ltd, is continuing,” a spokesperson for the regulator said.
“ASIC’s priority is to seek the return of funds to investors in the most efficient way possible.”
A previous hearing of the case on 22 February had seen the court order that liquidator’s reports into Ms Caddick’s remaining assets be prevented from being published publicly.
ASIC said it would “continue to work with the receivers and provisional liquidators” to prepare for the next hearing of the case, which was scheduled for 7 April.
“ASIC considers the hearing should go ahead as a priority to seek return of funds to investors,” an ASIC spokesperson said.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said on Friday the chain of events behind the discovery of Ms Caddick’s remains was “still a mystery”, with the NSW Coroner to come to a conclusion around the cause of her death.
If ASIC had any intention of fulfilling their mandate of instilling trust and confidence in the financial system, they would promote the adviser register to the general public. If the public knew about it, they might actually check the register and save themselves from being hoodwinked by fraudsters. But then again, perhaps it is more fun for government bureaucrats to sit around dreaming up more and more BS regulations to make life impossible for honest, hard-working, financial planners who provide a valuable service and contribute positively to the economy.
Annual renewal would have completely prevented this situation!!