Man arrested in Sydney hotel following 7NEWS investigation
A man wanted by police in multiple Australian states has been arrested in a luxury Sydney hotel, following an extensive 7NEWS investigation. The investigation, which spanned months, revealed the man's alleged involvement in a years-long scheme exploiting men during sexual encounters in high-end hotels.
7NEWS.com.au's investigation uncovered numerous allegations that the man used the dating app Grindr to meet men, arranging encounters at five-star hotels. He is then alleged to have surreptitiously photographed his victims' identification and bank cards while they were showering, using the stolen information to fund his lavish lifestyle and book subsequent hotel stays.
The 7NEWS investigation, which meticulously pieced together a vast collection of evidence including CCTV footage, banking statements, hotel and restaurant bookings, and police files, ultimately led to the man's identification and location at a prestigious Sydney hotel. Following a tip-off from 7NEWS, NSW Police made the arrest.
Due to ongoing legal proceedings in NSW, the man cannot be legally identified. He now faces court on charges related to the alleged fraud and exploitation. The 7NEWS investigation highlighted the man's alleged pattern of defrauding men across Australia.
“Just a back-of-the-letter calculation ... A five-star hotel is $300-400 a night. That’s $100-200,000 a year,” Mei, one of his accusers who allege he was scammed in July 2021, said.
“(He’s been) doing it since 2019 easily … that’s $1 million in hotel scams.
“Living day by day on the run, hooking up with everyone and anyone to get you through to the next place.”
Mei said he “gave up” on trying to stop the man through the “normal justice process” as it “goes nowhere”.
Another accuser said, “He lives in the shadows of airports and hotels”. Ben said he was scammed in June 2022.
“He’s like a ghost, constantly moving, leaving behind nothing but confusion and frustration.”
The accused has been on the run for around seven years, with his first known court appearance back in February 2014 in Adelaide. He was found guilty and sentenced for 28 offences, but was only given a 12-month suspended sentence.
In 2021, he was given a community correction order in Victoria, which corresponded with community correction orders in 2021 and then 2022 in NSW, which he breached twice.
Back in 2018, an Adelaide magistrate issued a warrant of apprehension for outstanding charges.
An arrest warrant was issued by a Melbourne magistrate for outstanding charges in October 2022.
“In June 2022, officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command commenced an investigation following a report of an alleged fraud,” police said.
“Following inquiries, about 10.30pm on January 8, police arrested a 31-year-old man at a hotel on Phillip Street, Sydney.”
The 7NEWS investigation revealed that a Grindr profile used to defraud multiple men in Sydney features images belonging to a Chinese national, whose photos are publicly available on Instagram and X. The revelation comes as three alleged victims express deep frustration with the perceived lack of progress by police in apprehending the suspect.
The investigation uncovered that the images used in the Grindr profile are those of a man with a visible online presence in China. This discovery adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing fraud case.
7NEWS attempted to contact the man through his Facebook and Instagram accounts, sending detailed questions regarding the allegations. However, he did not respond and subsequently blocked the journalist.
Despite the alleged inaction, police have issued a court attendance notice to the man. He is scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, March 3, to face charges of fraud and identity offences. The outcome of this court appearance is anticipated to shed further light on the case and the alleged police response.
Jonathan Jackson, 3rd March 2025
