WiseTech shares plunged 18.4% to a five-year low of $30.08 – 75% off their 12-month high of $121 – after Nine newspapers reported on Monday that the AFP’s human exploitation taskforce launched an investigation into White following a complaint by the former CEO of anti-money laundering firm Kyckr, which the billionaire acquired in late 2022 for $43.5 milllion.
In a statement released to the ASX on Tuesday morning, WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC) said the company is not aware of any investigation as outlined in the article.
“The Executive Chair has provided assurance to the Board that he is not aware of any such investigation and also confirmed that he emphatically and unequivocally denies any involvement in or with human trafficking,” it said.
The WiseTech statement says the alleged investigation “relates to Richard White in a personal capacity” and there is no suggestion that the company is involved.
However, there is a link to WiseTech, since the latest claims involve a former employee, Caroline Heidemann, a Brazilian national who launched Federal Court legal action against the WiseTech founder last year, alleging White gave her financial and visa support in return for sexual favours.
The matter was .
Heidemann worked at WiseTech for 15 months, but was made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She alleged in Federal Court documents that she was subsequently employed at White’s private company RealWise Management, but did not receive a wage, instead getting financial support and an apartment.
Heidemann alleged she suffered from “economic dependency” caused by White.
Now, Kyckr’s former CEO, Kathy Phelan, who is suing White over her dismissal from the business in June last year, has also made allegations about White’s role in Heidemann’s visa arrangements.
The AFR report says Phelan lodged a complaint to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) alleging that White took company letterhead and falsified documents, creating a non-existent role for Heidemann at Kyckr, for immigration purposes.
Phelan alleges White “created the false appearance that Kyckr under my leadership as CEO was legitimately sponsoring Ms Heidemann in a professional capacity”, adding that she was not consulted about it or told her name would be used on any visa application.
The AFP declined to comment to the AFR about the matter. White, Heidemann and Phelan also declined to comment to Nine on the allegations prior to publication on Monday.
