On Monday, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) confirmed that former investment manager Brett Paul Trevillian has been charged with four counts of making a false document to obtain a financial advantage under s253 of the Crimes Act (NSW).
Mr Trevillian is the director of Metal Alpha and was formerly an investment manager of Trading Life Services, which was previously known as AlphaThorn.
In light of an investigation by ASIC, it is alleged that Mr Trevillian created four forged portfolio performance verification reports between May and October 2019, which were then to be provided to potential investors.
Mr Trevillian was arrested by officers from the NSW Police Force upon his arrival into Australia at Sydney airport on 20 July 2023 on an arrest warrant obtained by ASIC.
He appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court on 28 July 2023, where his bail conditions were confirmed, including that he must remain in Australia.
Under s253 of the Crimes Act (NSW), each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
This matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions following a referral from ASIC and will next be in court on 26 September 2023 at the Downing Centre Local Court.
In May last year, ASIC cancelled the Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence of Metal Alpha after the company confirmed to the regulator that it was no longer carrying on a financial services business and had no intention to resume trading.
Meanwhile, the regulator also banned Gabriel Yakob, the former director of AlphaThorn, from providing financial services for a period of five years in December last year.
