Accused fraudster had 'treasure trove'

A fake crown, a signed All Blacks jersey and hundreds of Louis Vuitton products are among almost 1000 items once owned by the New Zealand man accused of defrauding the Queensland Government of $A16 million.

The "treasure trove" of designer clothes, jewellery, furniture, alcohol, art and collectibles of Hohepa Hikairo "Joel" Morehu-Barlow are to be auctioned off next month, the Courier-Mail reports.

Morehu-Barlow, 36, is set to plead in a Brisbane court next month to the allegations of fraud committed while he worked as a manager for Queensland Health.

Morehu-Barlow, formerly of Thames, allegedly explained his lavish lifestyle with claims he was a Tahitian prince.

The extravagant group of items to be auctioned on March 10 are expected to raise more than $300,000, the Courier-Mail says.

Most items are "unreserved and many [are] expected to sell for bargain prices".

The most valuable item up for grabs is a new $95,000 Bang and Olufsen television, which the auctioneers expect to sell for $15,000 to $20,000.

A Hermes saddle valued at up to $10,000 could go for around $2000.

There is also a bottle of French cognac valued at $25,000, a six-litre bottle of Dom Perignon, a $15,000 Breitling watch and Ping golf clubs.

There are also paintings by Brett Whiteley, John Olsen and Arthur Boyd.

The collection of Louis Vuitton items includes a surfboard, golf club bag, blow-up travel pillow and eye mask, luggage, scarves, ties and suits, the Courier-Mail said.

"It's sort of like someone got really carried away and liked one Louis Vuitton item and bought the whole range," said John D'Agata, who works at the business conducting the auction.

The collection also includes about 50 strands of rosary beads, Mr D'Agata said.

The public can view the collection at Antique and Fine Art Auctions in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba next month, and phone bids will be accepted for items over $1000.

Several luxury cars and a $5.65 million property owned by Morehu-Barlow have already been sold.

Property catalogue

An excerpt from the 29-page catalogue of the items the Queensland Government has seized from accused Queensland Health fraudster Hohepa Morehu-Barlow.

Clothing:

- 98 business shirts: Heringbone Sydney (18), Louis Vuitton (15), Mateo Di Rota (eight), Marcs (seven), Rhodes and Beckett (six), Tom Ford (six), mixed brands (38).

- 87 T-shirts (various brands)

- 58 ties: Louis Vuitton (28)

- 30 pairs of Louis Vuitton shoes, including one pair of black sequined business shoes

- 17 jeans (various brands)

- Five suits: Louis Vuitton (four), Hugo Boss (one)

- Three Louis Vuitton gloves (boxed)

- Five Louis Vuitton jackets

- One Louis Vuitton fur-like collar

- One Louis Vuitton dinner coat

- One Hugo Boss dinner jacket

- One Louis Vuitton windcheater

- One Louis Vuitton denim jacket

- One Louis Vuitton vest

- One Louis Vuitton leather jacket

- One Louis Vuitton bath robe

Accessories:

- 41 scarves: Louis Vuitton (26, including one fox-fur scarf), Alexander McQueen (one), No-brand (14)

- 36 sunglasses: Louis Vuitton (six), Kirk (one), Marc Jacobs (nine), Dolche & Gabbanna (one), Tom Ford (five), Dita (two), Chanel (one), Ray Bans (two), Gucci (three), Christian Dior, D-Squared, Issou, Porche, Carrera, and Balenciaga (one).

- Nine Louis Vuitton cufflinks

- Seven watches: Cartier (2), Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Breitling (1).

- Two Louis Vuitton tie clips

- One Alexander McQueen skull cufflinks

- One Mother of Pearl opera glasses

- One Hermes wallet

- One Louis Vuitton wallet, embossed with "HRH"

- One Dolche & Gabbanna tan rabbit fur hat

- One Hermes black shawl

Artwork:

- Tim Storrier's Straight Over the Plain

- Jeffrey Smart's Study for the Terrace, Variation on a Theme

- Arthur Boyd's Pulpit Rock

- Dean Vella's Flower vase, blocks on blue

- Brett Whitely (one work)

- Jake Reston (five works)

Alcohol:

- Six litre Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne

- Six litre Dom Perignon Champagne (in metal box)

- Six litre Krug Champagne (in wooden box)

- Moet and Chandon 2003 Grand Vintage Champagne 750 millilitres

- Dom Perignon 2002 Vintage Champagne 750 millilitres

- Kauffman Private Collection Vodka

- Pedro Ximenez Sherry

- Neilpoorts 1983 Port

- Martell L'Or Cognac 700 millilitres (boxed)

- Henessy XO Cognac 70 millilitres

- Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Sporting Memorabilia:

- One signed All Blacks jersey

- One framed Queensland Reds jersey

Luggage:

- Six Louis Vuitton overnight bags

- Three Louis Vuitton sports bags

- Three Louis Vuitton satchels

Home goods:

- Four Louis Vuitton towels

- Four Hermes blankets

- Two cowskin rugs

- One Ralph Lauren ice bucket

- One Hermes ice bucket

- One Dyson vacuum cleaner with accessories

Other belongings:

- 27 empty sunglass cases

- 22 sets of rosary beads

- 18 Louis Vuitton suit bags

- Nine antique wind-up robots

- Seven Davidoff Double cigars

- Four humidors: Louis Vuitton (two), Creedo Precision 70 (two)

- Four phones: iPhone (three), mobile (one)

- Three Bunnings Warehouse $100 gift vouchers

- One Hermes saddle

- One 64GB silver iPod engraved with "HRH Hohepa Morehu-Barlow"

- One Louis Vuitton umbrella

- One Louis Vuitton business card holder

- One Louis Vuitton laptop bag

- One Louis Vuitton iPad holder

- One leather thong with leather Mary cross on back

- One black and silver crucifix

- One Trojan tool box

- One "High Roller Las Vegas"key ring

- One Kiwi money box

- One Whitney Houston 2010 tour book

- One Diamantin and Domenicoru Italian cuckoo clock

- One blood pressure machine

- One 10 kilogram dumbbell

Source: BrisbaneTimes.com.au

 

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