Not overly relevant to WTC now but this just blows my mind - from the australian.
Mark Latham is demanding tech billionaire Richard White surrender messages that
allegedly prove the former Labor leader’s partner performed a sex act on the mogul
as he addressed unwitting investors on a Zoom call to assure them his marriage had
been repaired and all “indiscretions” had ended.
Solicitor Zali Burrows, acting for Mr Latham, last month requested the WiseTech
founder hand over messages with Nath alie Matthews that allegedly show Mr White
used company resources to fund flights and accommodation for her.
Ms Burrows also sought communications relating to Mr White allegedly paying Ms
Matthews company money in exchange for sex, inviting her to a European group sex
party, and sending her a questionnaire about her sexual preferences and experiences.
The Australian is not suggesting that the text exchanges exist or the alleged incidents
occurred, only that the request for these messages has been made during court
proceedings. It is understood the existence of the text messages and the alleged
incidents will be denied in court.
Ms Matthews declined to comment. Mr White declined to comment on the basis the
matter is the subject of legal proceedings.
The Australian has also obtained bank records that appear to show Mr White – who
has been accused by multiple women of exchanging business advice for sex –
transferred more than $145,000 to Ms Matthews in large instalments for “gifts” and
other expenses over an eight-month period.
Ms Matthews last month lodged a domestic violence order application against Mr
Latham in the NSW Local Court, accusing the NSW Upper House member of abuse,
including defecating on her during sex and driving a car at her. In a signed affidavit
filed with the court, Mr Latham admits to defecating on Ms Matthews, but claims that
it was at her request and did not involve sex.
He has firmly denied all abuse allegations made by Ms Matthews of any form,
claiming there are no “contemporaneous complaints to police or presentation to
doctors or hospitals regarding Matthews’ claim”.
The Australian last month published messages exchanged between Mr Latham and
Ms Matthews while they were romantically involved showing the MP suggesting Mr
White would want Ms Matthews to perform oral sex on him to “celebrate” after
WiseTech board members quit, leaving him with greater control over the company.Following the DVO application, Ms Burrows sought to serve subpoenas on Mr White
and Ms Matthews for their communications as part of Mr Latham’s defence against
the abuse claims.
Ms Matthews has previously claimed Mr Latham issued the subpoenas to herself and
Mr White for her communications with the WiseTech founder in an attempt to
“intimidate” her into withdrawing the DVO application against him.
“He is trying to silence me and assassinate my character,” she said in her only ‐
interview on July 18. In a letter dated July 23, attached to Mr Latham’s affidavit, Ms
Burrows claims Mr White had sex with Ms Matthews after she met Mr Latham.
“Mr White is a relevant witness as he is a person Ms Matthews voluntarily had sex
with since meeting Mr Latham in March 2023 and the documents sought to be
produced in the subpoena will support that there was no coercion on behalf of Mr
Latham in respect of the relationship between Mr White and Ms Matthews,” the
letter, addressed to Mr White’s legal team, reads.
“Mr Latham is aware of numerous messages between Ms Matthews and Mr White as
she often read out loud the text exchanges to Mr Latham, which confirm the
voluntary consensual nature of the relationship between Ms Matthews and Mr
White.”
Latham snaps at The Australian's journo during presser
Mark Latham has snapped at The Australian's Jo Panagopoulos during a statement to the press... more
Ms Burrows listed a series of alleged incidents that she said were referenced in
“relevant text exchanges” between Mr White and Ms Matthews.
Ms Burrows said Mr Latham was aware of text messages that allegedly described Mr
White’s “deception of WiseTech investors in Zoom meetings, telling them, ‘I have
repaired my marriage and all indiscretions have now ended’
, as Ms Matthews
performed oral sex on him under the table”.
She also referenced text messages that allegedly showed Mr White paid Ms Matthews
a monthly stipend from WiseTech funds in return for sex, and used company
resources to “fund hotel rooms, airline travel and other largesse for Ms Matthews”.
Other messages, Ms Burrows suggested, allegedly described group sex parties Mr
White attended in Switzerland to which he invited Ms Matthews, and showed Mr
White sent Ms Matthews a questionnaire about her “sexual preferences and
experiences”.
Mr White stood down as chief executive of WiseTech in October after the ASX-listed
firm’s shares dived more than 20 per cent in a five-day period, following a string of
revelations about multiple relationships with women including accusations of offering
business advice for sex and using company funds to pay some of them.
More than $145,000 was transferred from an account bearing Mr White’s name with
various descriptions including “gift NM/RW”, “Consulting Advice VTP” and “Brussels
N Matthews” from April 2024 to May this year across five transfers.