SFO probe of Metropolis turns up nothing

The new chairman says Metropolis owners are being kept up to date.

The former building manager of luxury high-rise apartment tower Metropolis says a Serious Fraud Office inquiry has found nothing untoward.

Dave Burgess said he was relieved that matters were closed and he had co-operated fully during the past five months but was unhappy a complaint was ever made.

"It's good to get it all tidied up but it should never have happened and there was no proof of any wrong doing," Burgess said. "I gave the SFO everything - my computer, phone, iPad, all the documents. We have nothing to hide," he said, referring to his wife, Cheryl Burgess.

Burgess said he was a director of AMB "contracted by the body corporate to provide management services to the Metropolis. These include but are not limited to a full concierge service, 24-hour security, public area cleaning, maintenance and management services of staff and the building", he said in 2012.

The Herald last year reported how a fight over control of the high-rise had broken out and three factions arose including the former body corporate committee, a newly elected committee and disaffected owners who had sought to be appointed. Questions arose about a $3.5 million sum.

A spokeswoman for the SFO confirmed her office was no longer investigating.

Tony Howard, Metropolis body corporate chairman, said in December he had received phone calls and correspondence from SFO forensic accountant Ryan Marshall and had been asked to supply a range of documents.

Concerns among residents in the 40-level tower dated back to before the Concerned Owners Group was formed and new members were elected to the body corporate which represents all owners, Howard said at the time.

The building was being run in an efficient, transparent manner and committee meeting minutes went out to all owners, Howard said. Financial information was also being distributed with a chairman's monthly report. Howard said such initiatives were evidence that owners were being kept up to date with how Metropolis was run.