The ex-husband of former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers has disappeared amid allegations he stole half a million dollars while working as a financial manager at a Melbourne company.
Justin McKeone is alleged to have stolen $481,490.33 during his five-month tenure as finance director at Rocket Brands (Cozmic Sales Pty Ltd).
The 37-year-old was due to appear in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Thursday to answer questions about an order freezing his assets, but failed to appear.
The court heard that McKeone had not contacted lawyers involved in the civil proceedings since November 11, when he was contacted by lawyers representing his former employer.
McKeone has not publicly responded to the allegations and his LinkedIn profile and Instagram account have since been deactivated.
The court had already ordered McKeone’s assets frozen totaling the amount Rocket Brands claimed he stole between May 23 and October 6.
That order was set to expire Thursday, but was extended in McKeone’s absence.
The court heard McKeone, who once rubbed shoulders with Melbourne jet set, had limited access to $800 a week to survive and $10,000 to pay legal fees.
Justin McKeone and his ex-wife, former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers
McKeone joined Rocket Brands in March of this year with an annual salary of $200,000. But just weeks into his probation, staff reportedly raised concerns about his erratic behavior.
An affidavit filed in court by Holmes reveals complaints from employees who allege that McKeone “slept in the work bathrooms for up to four hours a day,” took excessively long lunch breaks and frequently left the office without completing his tasks.
Court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia claim McKeone admitted the theft when confronted by Rocket Brands director Matthew Holmes in mid-October.
During the meeting, McKeone allegedly confessed that he embezzled the money to fund “a very serious drug habit.”
He allegedly told Holmes he would “do everything he could” to pay for the deal.
On Thursday, lawyer Kieren Hickie of Rocket Brands asked the court to extend the freezing order to any international assets McKeone may have stashed abroad.
The court heard that McKeone had failed to comply with a “disclosure notice” due on November 24 despite assurances that he would hire a lawyer to act on his behalf.
Rocket Brands asked Judge Peter Gray to issue an interlocutory judgment (a non-final judgment that resolves one element of a claim or other issue without deciding the entire case) awarding it full restitution and legal costs.
“My client intends to proceed by applying for an interlocutory judgment to be entered against the defendant and for damages to be assessed,” Mr Hickie said.
Justin McKeone in happier days with his ex-wife, former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers
Olivia Molly Rogers dodged a bullet when she broke up with Justin McKeone
The company also requested that McKeone pay its legal costs.
‘We are here today, clearly the defendant has not filed an appearance. “The fair, timely and cost-effective resolution of this dispute would be for an interlocutory judgment to be entered,” Mr Hickie said.
Court documents claim 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 approve and process payments.
The affidavit claims McKeone manipulated invoices to reflect payments to suppliers such as ‘Storage King’ and ‘Net Focus IT’ while redirecting funds to his own Westpac account.
Screenshots submitted to the court allegedly show McKeone editing and approving these allegedly fraudulent transactions on Xero. Holmes told the court he had not authorized any of the payments during the disputed period.
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 charges have been laid as the investigation continues.
In the civil law case, Rocket Brands is demanding 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 harmful, alleging that the alleged theft has caused significant financial losses.
The court filing states that McKeone’s actions were allegedly a “serious breach of trust” and that the company is “not in a position to accept (his) representation” that he has no money left in his accounts.
Olivia Molly Rogers, who split from McKeone last year, has not commented on the legal case.
Judge Gray extended the freezing order until April next year and agreed to an interlocutory decision to pave the way for an assessment of damages to be launched against McKeone should he remain uncontactable.