WA realtor Ian Leckie is fighting a case that could see him lose his job.
Key points:Real estate agent Ian Leccia was accused of falsifying his documents and illegally obtaining propertyThe agency said it was conducting an internal investigation and is now looking at legal optionsThe agency is now conducting an independent investigationThe Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) has been investigating claims that a Perth-based agency was engaging in a fraud scheme, but it has found the money was actually going to the agency’s owner.
The real estate agent, who was employed by REIWA, was accused in a WA Supreme Court of being the operator of a $4.8 million fraud and was later charged with making false and misleading documents to obtain a $5.3 million loan.
Mr Lecky, from St Peters, said the real estate company had been contacted by the Real Estate Professionals Council (RPDC) and the Department of Industry and Innovation (DII).
“It was just a total of four or five phone calls.
It’s been six months and I’m still not satisfied with the investigation,” Mr Lecki said.”
I’ve been contacted and I’ve had a lot of questions and I really don’t know what’s going on.”
He said he contacted the RPDC and DII to complain about the conduct of his former employer.
“At the time I was hired, I was told I had to go through a three-month training program,” Mr LaCie said.
Mr LaCies allegations come just days after WA realtors and brokers were threatened with prosecution and even a police investigation after a report by a professional body.
The RPDc, which is part of the WA Government, said it is investigating the matter.”REI WA is a registered professional and an accredited provider of real estate services and it is committed to a zero-tolerance approach to any form of fraud,” the WA Real Estate Association (WREA) said in a statement.
“The RSPCA and DPIW are currently investigating this matter.”
The Real Property Institute of WA said it had conducted an internal review and is currently conducting an investigation.
“As a result of our review, we have advised that we are undertaking an independent, full and fair investigation,” the institute said in its statement.
The institute said it has contacted the Department for Business, Innovation and Employment to determine what action it can take.
“It is clear that the investigation is continuing and we are fully aware of the seriousness of the allegations,” the realtor’s association said.
The WA Government said it will take “appropriate action” against the agency if necessary.”WREAs concerns are all about the integrity of the realty sector and we will work with the RSPC and the DPI to ensure that any appropriate action is taken,” a spokeswoman for the WA Minister for Business and Innovation, Simon Corbell, said.
Topics:housing-industry,realestate,law-crime-and-justice,real-estate-industries,realgraphics,courts-and/or-trials,courthouses-and+courts,realcrime,warranties,law—state-law,wagga-4025,perth-6000,wa,barwon-4029,lincoln-4031First posted March 17, 2019 18:15:32Contact Lisa HockneyMore stories from Western Australia
