During the subsequent legal stoush over Rofe’s estate, the court heard that Rofe, whom Justice Geoff Lindsay described as a “contrarian controversialist” who enjoyed a “lifetime of heavy alcohol intake”, had developed a close personal relationship with Jackson, who he said was “an unlikely outsider” and a “controversial public figure.”
The court heard the introduction had come via broadcaster Alan Jones.
The late barrister David Rofe, QC, left $2.3 million to Kathy Jackson in his will.Credit: Simon Alenka
In 2022, the year after the court battle concluded, three payments totalling $2.31 million went into the trust account maintained by Leroy in his capacity as Jackson’s bankruptcy trustee.
“What happened next beggars belief,” said Federal Court Justice David O’Callaghan last week.
The judge recounted that Leroy “misappropriated at least $886,000” from Jackson’s estate and fled overseas, with his current whereabouts unknown. Leroy also paid himself almost $156,000 for effectively stealing Jackson’s inheritance, which should have gone to the HSU.
When the union’s solicitor made inquiries about the Rofe funds, he was told that the money had not yet arrived.
Justice O’Callaghan ordered Leroy to repay the stolen funds as well as his remuneration for managing Jackson’s bankrupt estate.
The theft from Jackson’s bankruptcy was not 60-year-old Leroy’s only alleged crime.
The inspector-general in bankruptcy last month started proceedings in the Federal Court against Leroy following extensive investigations which revealed that Leroy is alleged to have misappropriated more than $4 million from five bankrupt estates between 2021 and 2023.
The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) is seeking court orders declaring that Leroy breached his duties, is not a fit and proper person to act as a bankruptcy trustee, and must repay misappropriated funds and improper remuneration.
Leroy, who was formerly the honorary consul for Belgium, worked at Hall Chadwick for 28 years before joining insolvency firm Mackay Goodwin in mid-2023. He is understood to have fled the country later that year and has not been heard of since.
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