A major controversy has erupted involving an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) journalist and a privately funded true-crime podcast, leading to an internal probe by the public broadcaster. The dispute centres on cash payments allegedly demanded by the reporter, with the podcast's budget sourced from an unlicensed overseas cryptocurrency casino.
Cash Demands and Crypto Backing Spark Row
The conflict began between independent journalist Ryan Naumenko and his co-host, Mahmood Fazal, an investigative reporter for the ABC's Four Corners programme. Their partnership on the 'Word on the Street' podcast collapsed after just one episode amid a stand-off over Fazal's fee. Naumenko claims he was forced to withdraw $7,500 in cash from an ATM in the early hours of the morning before recording could commence.
According to Naumenko, a further $4,000 cash payment was made for a second episode, supplemented by an extra $1,000 electronic transfer. He alleges Fazal did not inform his ABC employers about receiving these payments. The funding for the entire project, which has now been scrapped, was later revealed to come from the online gambling firm Vegastars, at a rate of $25,000 per episode.
ABC Investigation and Denials
The ABC has launched an internal investigation into the matter. However, Naumenko has publicly questioned its thoroughness, stating that weeks after the scandal broke, the national broadcaster has still not contacted him for details. "Where are the emails from ABC to me? Where are the phone calls?" he told the Daily Mail.
Fazal, a former member of the Mongols bikie gang, has denied wrongdoing. Through his lawyer, Rebekah Giles, he claimed any funds received from Naumenko were solely to pay production crew – an assertion Naumenko strongly rejects. Fazal also stated that text messages presented to the ABC's Media Watch programme, which appeared to show him demanding cash, were "deliberately taken out of context".
Violent Home Invasion and Police Criticism
In a disturbing separate incident, just days after Naumenko's falling out with Fazal, his elderly mother's home in Mildura, Victoria, was subjected to a violent home invasion. Three assailants, two armed with a machete and a bat, jumped the fence and broke in, assaulting Naumenko's sick mother.
Naumenko, who has built a reputation as a fearless crime reporter with deep underworld connections, has since linked the attack to a figure involved in Melbourne's tobacco wars. He has expressed disgust at Victoria Police's failure to make any arrests, claiming bureaucratic red tape is hindering justice. A police spokesman confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.
The intertwining scandals – involving media ethics, undisclosed crypto-casino funding, and violent crime – have raised serious questions about boundaries and accountability for journalists working on sensitive investigative projects.
