Early super release duo arrested at airport

A father and son, who are under investigation for alleged involvement in a business that offered consumers illegal early access to their superannuation, were arrested on Saturday at Perth International Airport attempting to leave the country despite having surrendered their passports in August.

Andrzej Janusz Michalik and his son Martin were arrested by Australian Federal Police trying to board a flight bound for Singapore.

In August, the two men were ordered to surrender their passports to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and were restrained from leaving New South Wales, or Australia, or from coming within 200 metres of a departure point.

The pair appeared before Perth Magistrate's Court yesterday and were remanded in custody to re-appear before the Court tomorrow.

The initial allegations followed an investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that claimed, Kilahim, an unlicenced company controlled by the Michaliks, had illegally promoted the early release of super.

ASIC yesterday also obtained further orders in the Supreme Court of New South Wales to the appointment of a receiver and manager across all property held by the Michaliks.

This is in addition to an earlier Court appointment, by consent, of a receiver over various bank accounts, vehicles, a boat and property owned by the Michaliks and Kilahim.

The defendants promoted their business by advertising in local newspapers.

These advertisements appeared with the headline, 'Superannuation Cashback - Having financial difficulties? Need money for medical expenses? Rollover to any institution'.