Former Miss Universe Australia's Ex-Husband Appears in Court on Major Fraud Charges
The ex-husband of former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers has made a court appearance in Melbourne after previously disappearing during a civil case. Justin McKeone faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday, where he was formally charged with more than one hundred offences related to obtaining financial advantage by deception from his former employer.
Allegations of Systematic Financial Deception
Detectives allege that McKeone stole a substantial sum of $481,490.33 over a concentrated three-month period while serving as head of finance for pharmaceutical sales business Rocket Brands, also known as Cozmic Sales Pty Ltd, during 2024. Many of these serious allegations had been previously presented in the Supreme Court of Victoria, where his former employers initiated civil action against McKeone in an attempt to recover the significant missing funds.
Police formally charged McKeone earlier this month, and he potentially faces years of imprisonment if found guilty of these extensive offences. During Friday's hearing, McKeone did not enter a formal plea and was subsequently granted bail pending further proceedings.
Olivia Molly Rogers' Emotional Social Media Revelation
Meanwhile, Molly Rogers has shared a series of poignant posts on her Instagram account, which boasts 350,000 followers, expressing her profound relief at having ended her relationship with McKeone. The former beauty queen wrote candidly about her emotional journey, stating: 'Starting again might be the scariest - and best - decision you ever make.'
She continued with heartfelt reflection: 'At 30 I left my marriage, unsure of what life would look like. I was scared, anxious, hurt and embarrassed - I didn't know what my life would look like on the other side. But I trusted that I deserved more ... Leaving is hard. But staying in the wrong relationship is harder.'
Details of the Alleged Spending Spree Emerge
In March of last year, the Supreme Court heard disturbing details about how McKeone allegedly spent almost half a million dollars on what was described as an epic booze, drugs and gambling spree. Notably, McKeone had not been present in court to hear these allegations after he appeared to vanish completely, sparking genuine concerns for his wellbeing when authorities could not locate him.
However, the Daily Mail revealed on December 27, 2024, that McKeone had quietly moved back to his home state of Western Australia, where he was eventually found safe and well. The former Melbourne socialite is alleged to have stolen the substantial funds during his relatively brief five-month tenure as head of finance at Rocket Brands.
Employment Background and Erratic Behavior
The court was informed that McKeone joined Rocket Brands in March 2024 with an annual salary of $200,000. Alarmingly, just weeks into his probationary period, staff members reportedly raised concerns about his increasingly erratic behavior. Financial records presented to the court showed that McKeone had a mere $1,000 in his personal account when he is accused of taking more than $6,000 in his first four thefts from his employers.
Barrister Kieren Hickie, representing Rocket Brands, characterized the situation as a 'spending spree' that only ended when McKeone's unusual behavior prompted the company owner to launch a thorough investigation into the organization's finances. Hickie stated: '(He's) going on a spending spree for his own personal purposes, depleting his account down to nearly zero.'
Police Investigation and Personal Developments
McKeone's employer reported the alleged theft to Victoria Police on October 14, 2024, initiating a comprehensive criminal investigation. Detectives interviewed McKeone on November 6, 2024, though formal charges were only brought this month. In a separate personal development, McKeone revealed last year that he was expecting a child with Tahnee Leeson, a contestant from The Bachelor Australia 2021, with whom he had maintained an on-again, off-again relationship since his separation from Molly Rogers.
Notably, Leeson was not present in court on Friday to support the father of her child. At the final civil hearing before the case was dismissed, Rocket Brands declared it sought an additional $70,000 from McKeone to cover legal expenses, plus another $17,000 in interest on the funds he allegedly stole. The reasons for the ultimate dismissal of the civil case remain unclear, though the Daily Mail has applied to inspect the final orders.
McKeone is scheduled to return to court in June for further proceedings regarding these serious fraud allegations.
