A major A Current Affair investigation has tracked former “mean machine” swim sensation and alleged fraudster Neil Brooks to Bali.
Neil brooks : Bali | Criminal | News | Court | Net worth
Born in England, Brooks emigrated to Australia as a toddler and started swimming lessons after nearly drowning in a childhood accident.
After initially being known for his lack of technique, Brooks quickly rose through the youth ranks.
Brooks made his debut at the Australian Championships in 1976, but it was not until 1979 that he medalled at national level and made his debut for Australia at a FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) Swimming World Cup meet.
In 1980, he gained prominence by breaking the Australian record in the 100 m freestyle and being invited to a national team camp.
Neil brooks bali
A Current Affair investigation has tracked former “mean machine” swim sensation and alleged fraudster Neil Brooks to Bali.
Brooks and his wife Linda were arrested on serious fraud charges involving $1.95 million in Brisbane five years ago.
The pair were granted bail and allowed to keep their passports.
The couple have been unable to return to Australia, until now, due to pandemic travel restrictions and their vaccination status.
A Brisbane magistrate recently threatened to issue a warrant for the former Olympian’s arrest if he does not front up to court in August.
A Current Affair can reveal the couple have been living and running businesses in the Australian holiday favourite, Bali.
He was seen settling in for a bite of brunch at one of his bustling eateries, completely unaware A Current Affair’s Steve Marshall was sitting just a few tables away.
“Steve Marshall from A Current Affair,” the reporter said to a surprised Brooks exiting the Nourish Cafe.
Neil brooks Criminal
Former Olympic swimming champion Neil Brooks has broken his silence on a five-year criminal investigation into an almost $2 million dollar business deal gone wrong.
In his first major television interview in over a decade – after quietly returning to Australia from a self-imposed exile to Bali – Brooks has denied all allegations against him.
The 60-year-old is charged with making dishonest representations to business partner Glenn Melcheck. He will face a committal court hearing on Wednesday in Brisbane.
Their company had the rights to sell tattoo sports skins but collapsed within two months of launching in 2008.
The swimming champion told that he welcomed the opportunity to speak publicly to tell his side of the story.
“It was never a question of us not coming here to fight it because we’ve got so much to fight with and so much to fight for… I’m not going to run away from this,” he told.
Brooks says he knows who is to blame, and will produce “boxes of evidence” in court to prove his innocence.
“We’ve kept everything. We’ve got boxes and boxes of emails and evidence that categorically prove there was no fraud from us,” he said.
News
Bikies allegedly bashed Olympic gold medallist Neil Brooks after a failed $2 million business deal, saying “you’re a dead man”, a court has heard.
The former swimming champion’s nose was broken after being jumped in a Gold Coast car park in 2010 by two men hired by ex-business partner Glenn Melcheck, Brooks’ barrister Christopher Wilson said.
Brooks, 60, and his wife Linda on Wednesday appeared in a Brisbane Magistrates Court committal hearing, five years after being charged with fraud.
It is alleged they made dishonest representations to induce Mr Melcheck and his wife to pay $2 million and buy 50 per cent of the Brooks’ sports merchandise company before it failed months later in 2008.
At the hearing Mr Wilson said Brooks was punched in the face and knocked to the ground by two hired bikies as he got out of his car in September 2010.
Court
After years of delays former Olympic swimmer Neil Brooks and his wife Linda Brooks finally arrived in Brisbane to face fraud charges following orders from a magistrate.
But the saga, which has spanned over years and multiple countries, took another twist today when other unexpected allegations came to light in court.
“I’m really confident once people see the evidence and the facts that are going to be rolled out today with our legal team that I’ll be cleared of all these charges,” Brooks told the media outside court.
“You’re always anxious about certain things, because you know what’s at stake, but I feel really positive ’cause I was there.
“This has been 14 years that we’ve been waiting to finally tell our side of the story in a court of law.”
Glen Melcheck, who alleged Brooks ripped him off, was also in court today.
Also, In 2012, Melcheck told A Current Affair his involvement in a sports clothes business cost him everything.
“The personal toll to me and my family is absolutely devastating,” he previously told A Current Affair.
Net worth
As of 2022, Neil Brooks estimated net worth is approximately $5 Million.