Firepower International

Firepower International was advertised as a Hong Kong-based company owned and operated by Global Fuel Technologies Ltd, specializing in technology purporting to reduce the fuel consumption and environmental impact of petrol-operated vehicles.^[1] There were other offices in Sydney, China, Rhodes, Athens and Papua New Guinea, according to the now-defunct official company website. But "in reality it was a handful of people in an industrial estate in Perth", Western Australia, who were conducting a complex of fraudulent operations.^[2] The original entity—Firepower Operations Pty Ltd—was a $1 company, first registered in December 2004, owned by Firepower Holdings Group Ltd, a company with an address in the British Virgin Islands.^[3]

Through connections created with gullible Australian federal ministers, trade officials and their networks, the governments of Britain, Russia, Romania and many others were persuaded to believe Firepower offered important solutions to global warming and the peak oil energy crisis.^[4] However, after questions were raised about the efficacy of the 'Firepower Pill' and related products in reducing engine fuel consumption, the Firepower organisation's principal, Timothy Francis (Tim) Johnston, was claimed by media critics to have perpetrated a large-scale confidence trick or scam, the subject of investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).^[5][6] In July 2011, ASIC banned Johnston from managing any company for twenty years.^{[7] [8]}

'Firepower Pill'

Firepower International's main product was the Firepower Pill, advertised as being able to "lower fuel consumption, reduce emissions, [and] clean and maintain your engine".^[9] The product was claimed to work by "burning more of the heavier elements of your fuel, increasing power and fuel economy", and because more of the fuel is consumed in the combustion process, hydrocarbon and carbon-dioxide emissions are lowered.^[9] Inserted into a vehicle's fuel tank, a single Firepower Pill was advertised as being able to treat up to 60 litres of petrol. (Elsewhere, a larger pill was advertised, claimed to be able to treat 200 litres of petrol or diesel).^[10]

Controversy

After an abortive plan (aided by the Australian government in October 2006^[11]:p.191) to establish headquarters in Switzerland, the group's founder and chief executive, Mr Tim Johnston, moved to London where his whereabouts were concealed for almost two years^[12] until he was located in London by The Australian newspaper.^[13]

Corporate charges

In 2007, Firepower came under investigation by The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)^[14] over raising "$60 million without adequate financial disclosures to investors". ASIC has sought court orders to have Mr Johnston, who left New Zealand in controversial circumstances in the mid-'90s, banned from operating companies in Australia.^[15] On 21 July 2008, ASIC also filed an action in the Federal Court against companies associated with Gordon Hill, Warren Anderson, Les Stein and financial adviser Quentin Ward who is believed to have sold more than AU$40 million of the shares in Perth.^[5][11]:p243 Anderson's company Owston Nominees was alleged to have been issued 40 million one-cent shares in Firepower's Virgin Islands-based parent company Firepower BVI in June 2005, which were onsold for up to 50c a share.^[16] In March 2010, it was reported that former Labor government minister Gordon Hill, facing a AU$5 million lawsuit, had declared bankruptcy.^[17] (Refer also to ASIC court outcomes below.)

Product doubts

There were also questions over whether the 'Firepower Pill' actually worked as advertised.^[18] Commentators pointed to the refusal of Firepower to give detailed information about how the pill functioned, and similarities between the Firepower Pill and the FE-3 pill,^[18] which had been independently proven not to increase vehicle performance.^[19]

The Firepower Pill was tested for effectiveness by the former Western Australian Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.^[20] The investigation "raised some real concerns about the validity of claims ... that Firepower made [on the packaging] in support of the fuel saving and emission reducing properties of the Firepower Pill".^[20] In light of this, the department ordered that the Firepower Pill be withdrawn from sale in Western Australia,^[20] together with other purported fuel-saving devices whose advertised claims were not substantiated.^[21]

In response, Firepower claimed many notable organizations used its product - including the Australian and New Zealand military forces, and a V8 supercars team, despite the fact that no fuel-additives are allowed in V8 Supercar regulations. The claims were denied by those named.^[3] Firepower also claimed to its shareholders that it was taking part in joint ventures with Shell and General Motors—claims that both companies have refuted.^[3]

Government involvement

The then Australian government of John Howard became involved in the scam in a number of ways—through defence-force agencies and personnel, through the export agency Austrade^[22] and directly through successful lobbying of federal minister for science Julie Bishop and John Howard himself. Johnston reportedly promised significant donations to the Liberal Party, and an attempt was made to secure a funding grant from the government's AU$500-million Low Emission Technology Demonstration Fund. A related Firepower entity, TPS Firepower, received almost AU$400,000 in export grants from the government.^[23]

The fraud could not have continued for so long, or become so large, had it not been for the crucial intervention of Austrade. Somebody at the trade commission, probably someone junior, failed to make a rudimentary verification of any of the grandiose claims Johnston was making. Austrade took on Firepower as a client, and opened doors to contacts around the world through Australian embassies. Over time, Firepower received $394,000 in grants under the Export Market Development Grants scheme. A senior Austrade manager, John Finnin, was recruited by Johnston as his chief executive. The senior trade commissioner at the Australian Embassy in Moscow, Gregory Klumov, was recruited to run Firepower's Russian operation. For years, Johnston was able to wrap himself in the credibility of government patronage.^[2]

Exposé

Much of the critical inquiry into Firepower was instigated and pursued by the Sydney Morning Herald's senior investigative journalist Gerard Ryle. In May 2009, Allen & Unwin published Ryle's book Firepower: The most spectacular fraud in Australian history which revealed both the fraud's magnitude and the unwitting participation of Australian government agencies and personages, including the then prime minister, John Howard.^[24] A July 2008 ABC Four Corners analysis, 'Liar Liar, Pants on Fire', also presented details of the company's history through interviews with former managers and staff, covering sporting sponsorships and misrepresentation of products and securities.^[25]

Sporting sponsorship

At its height, Firepower was one of Australia's biggest sporting sponsors.^[26] Under the company's mounting debts, commitments were reneged upon, leaving sporting teams struggling with financial pressures.

The former Sydney Kings, an Australian basketball franchise part-owned by Tim Johnston, ceased to exist because of the collapse of Firepower. Kings players were owed large sums in unpaid wages and superannuation.^[27]—a figure quoted at AU$265,073^[18]

The Perth-based rugby union team Western Force was promised millions of dollars in funding which failed to materialise, causing loss of contracted players, notably Matt Giteau.^[28][29]

In 2006, the rugby league team South Sydney Rabbitohs was bought by business partners Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes à Court. On 5 November that year, Russell Crowe appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and announced that Firepower was sponsoring South Sydney Rabbitohs for AU$3 million over three years.^[30] Crowe showed viewers a Rabbitohs jersey with Firepower's name on it.^[31] In a press release, Peter Holmes à Court announced

"Russell and I have been particularly keen to take the club forward in a socially responsible fashion and Firepower certainly fulfils that criteria. Firepower is an Australian success story—operating in over 50 countries globally and currently expanding rapidly into new markets. Firepower is an emerging brand that is already a global leader in its category. "^[32]

Demise

Damning documents found on computer

On 28 February 2009, The West Australian newspaper announced that "Thousands of internal Firepower documents have been discovered in a computer abandoned by the disgraced fuel technology firm before its multi-million-dollar collapse in 2007".^[33] The computer, believed to have been the internet server for all the computers in Firepower's Perth office, had no hard drive but contained 3 SCSI interface storage devices which had captured "thousands of emails and other documents including being sent to and from Tim Johnston, his executives and office staff". It was one of five hardware items purchased at auction for AU$40 by local internet cafe owner Mr Henk Beugelaar.

The documents included:

• Company cheque butts, including one recording a AU$10,000 "gift" to the President of Pakistan;
• Evidence that the Howard government was complicit in official high-level backing of Firepower products through Austrade offices;
• Evidence of the company's constant quest for connections with high-ranking government and military officials in order to get deals done, and acknowledgement that such consultants needed to be "looked after".^[33]:p.7

Federal Court action

Firepower's Australian operations were put into liquidation in early July 2008 in the Australian Federal Court, followed by the British Virgin Islands arm in late September The action was commenced by the company's own lawyers over a debt of AU$70,000 and joined by mining magnate Ross Graham, who had lent Johnston AU$25 million.^[11]:p244 The liquidator, Bryan Hughes reportedly believes the company traded while insolvent from 22 July 2007^[34] and that "Johnson had stashed up to AU$38 millions in overseas bank accounts and was planning to use the money to build a replica company called Green Power Corporation".^[11]:p244 Firepower Operations estimated that, in July 2008, it owed more than AU$16 million to various creditors, investors, and groups it had sponsorship deals with.^[18]

ASIC

Warren Anderson's company Owston Nominees No 2 was the subject of a court action launched by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) which claims it sold Firepower shares to small investors without giving them a prospectus, making a AU$20-million windfall.^[35] Anderson publicly urged Johnston to face his accusers.^[36] On 8 February 2011, ASIC's proceedings against Owston and other respondents were successful, the Federal Court finding that declarations and publicity orders were an appropriate form of relief for the contraventions of s727(1) of the [Corporations] Act.^[37] On 18 August 2011, ASIC succeeded in obtaining a similar determination and Federal Court orders against Sattvic Pty Ltd, the company operated by Leslie Stein.^[38]

Return of Johnston to Australia

Because Johnston was never charged with fraud, ASIC lacked the necessary criminal-law basis for pursuit of his extradition to face charges in Australia. He simply had to stay out of the country to avoid facing shareholders.^[11] However, on Monday 2 November 2009, Tim Johnston openly returned to Australia, reportedly to see family members.^[34] On 5 November, he was ordered by the Federal Court not to leave the country, to surrender passports and to appear in a Perth court on 26 November. The injunction was served on Johnston at his Gold Coast mansion.^[39] Johnston surrendered two passports but failed to make the court appearance, citing a heart condition and fears for his personal safety. The hearing was adjourned and arrangements made for him to appear by video link from Queensland.^[40]

It has also been alleged that Johnston sought to rehabilitate his reputation while in England, and facilitate continuing fraudulent actions, by use of a purported letter from ASIC which declared: "Our findings based on credible and confidential information obtained by this office, Indicates (sic) that you have acted appropriately and in accordance with the Corporate Guideline Act and therefore this office no longer finds you a person of interest in this matter." But an ASIC spokeswoman disclaimed the existence of a "Corporate Guideline Act".^[41]

On the 8th of December 2009 Johnston faced the Federal Court in Perth and was examined by the liquidator, Bryan Hughes. On his way into the court room he was served with legal documents and a summons before proceedings even started. He was examined in detail over various financial transactions, including family travel payments and transactions surrounding the purchase of his Mosman Park mansion and claimed that he was forced to buy the property by his close friend and occasional antagonist Warren Anderson. In earlier evidence he claimed that Anderson forced him to pay AU$4 million into Anderson's family company, Owston Nominees, then received a loan from Owston Nominees the following day to the value of AU$5.8 million to allow the purchase of the property.

Johnston was accompanied later in the day by his wife Sandra and two daughters Madelaine and Emily. Sandra Johnston had fled to Bali after the seizure of Johnston's passports, concerned at her own potential liability due to her position as a company director between 2005 and 2008. She stayed in the Nusa Dua Asmara cliffside villa built by Gordon Hill when he was a director of Firepower, and purchased with Firepower funds. Whilst at the villa she was allegedly intimidated by tattooed men and mystery packages. Johnston told the court that he was personally threatened by Mr Anderson, who had used "particular people" to intimidate him.^[42]

Other court proceedings

Ross Graham

In 2008, mining entrepreneur Ross Graham, obtained a Western Australian Supreme Court order for immediate payment of over A$12 m in respect of a personally guaranteed loan. Mr Graham proposed to commence bankruptcy proceedings if the amount was not paid, but acknowledged that he is unlikely to recover any of the money.^[43]

IMF (Australia)

It has been estimated that Australian "mum-and-dad" investors were shorn of AU$100 million by a small number of entrepreneurial investors and professional advisors with inside contacts who purchased Firepower shares at a very low price for on-selling to others at much higher prices. On 3 June 2009, The West Australian newspaper announced that "Former WA police minister Gordon Hill has become the first target of investors trying to recover their money from the wreckage of failed fuel technology company Firepower after he was hit with a $5 million lawsuit yesterday".^[44] The Supreme Court writ was filed on behalf of 79 investors by lawyers for litigation funder IMF (Australia). Investors paid for shares in Firepower Holdings Limited (registered in the Cayman Islands) but were given shares in Firepower Holdings Group Limited (registered in the British Virgin Islands).

The report added that other dealers were expected to be targeted, including the private companies of property tycoon Warren Anderson and Sydney lawyer Les Stein, both of whom were heavily involved in Firepower. IMF managing director Hugh McLernon said "We will probably look at recovering about $40 million but I would be thinking that we would be battling to do much more than that."^[44]

On 17 September 2010, IMF lodged a second WA Supreme Court writ on behalf of 242 Firepower investors seeking more than AU$5 million from Les and Miriam Stein and their family company Sattvic; up to AU$26 million from Fremantle lawyers Matthew Morgan and Stefan Alteruthemeyer and their company Maclma; and about AU$8 million from the National Australia Bank. A press report cited IMF's investment manager Paul Rainford as planning a third action against a Singapore company with the goal of recovering a total of AU$60 million through the three lawsuits. IMF had decided not to pursue either Tim Johnston or Warren Anderson because of their likely financial incapacity.^[45]

References

1. ^ Ryle G Firepower offers pill franchise Sydney Morning Herald, 17 June 2008
2. ^ ^{a b} Sheehan P Truth almost as sordid as the lies Sydney Morning Herald, 4 May 2009
3. ^ ^{a b c} Ryle G Rise of a man with a magic mystery pill Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January 2007
4. ^ Ryle G Pop goes the pill prince BusinessDay (Australia) 2 May 2009
5. ^ ^{a b} 08-163 ASIC launches action in relation to fuel technology company Australian Securities and Investments Commission 21 July 2008
6. ^ Advisor banned for role in Firepower (Money Management, Australia, 9 July 2009)
7. ^ 11–148MR Former Firepower chairman banned for 20 years at Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 21 July 2011
8. ^ ASIC bans Firepower boss for 20 years ABC News
9. ^ ^{a b} Firepower pill^{[dead link]} Promotional claims on company's website
10. ^ [1]^{[dead link]} on company's website, dated 13 October 2007
11. ^ ^{a b c d e} Ryle G Firepower: The most spectacular fraud in Australian history Allen & Unwin, Sydney 2009. ISBN 978-1-74175-355-4
12. ^ Wainwright R and Ryle G Firepower's Phileas Fogg steals away Sydney Morning Herald, 7 July 2008
13. ^ Wilson P Firepower boss Tim Johnston found in London The Australian, 26 September 2008
14. ^ Firepower director to address creditors by phone ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 24 July 2008
15. ^ James C Crows coach, stars hit by $60m fuel scam AdelaideNow (News.com.au) 24 July 2008
16. ^ Perpitch N Anderson linked to Firepower collapse Sydney Morning Herald 4 September 2008 (BusinessDay)
17. ^ Ex-minister, Firepower director bankrupt PerthNow (Sunday Times) 3 Mar 10
18. ^ ^{a b c d} Ryle G Little fuel booster shoots for the stars Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January 2007
19. ^ Ryle G Firepower pill probe Sydney Morning Herald, 5 February 2007
20. ^ ^{a b c} Walker P (Western Australian Commissioner for Consumer Protection) Focus on clean and green claims about vehicle fuel saving and emission reducing devices and additives Statement 13 March 2008
21. ^ Motor Vehicle Industry Newsletter No. 11 (page 3) Publication of the Western Australian Department of Commerce: Motor Vehicle Industry Board, April 2009
22. ^ Ryle G Austrade doles out to secretive firm Sydney Morning Herald, 10 January 2007
23. ^ Ryle G and Magnay J Firepower chief had dinner with Howard Sydney Morning Herald, 15 July 2008
24. ^ What does it take to create one of the country's most spectacular frauds? (Audio) Interview with Gerard Ryle, Australian ABC Radio National, 30 April 2009
25. ^ Jackson,Liz Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire Transcript at ABC Four Corners, 21 July 2008
26. ^ Magnay, Jacquelin Into the dragon's lair Sydney Morning Herald, 20 January 2007
27. ^ Kogoy P Kings star $100,000 out of pocket The Australian, 5 July 2008
28. ^ Magnay J and Ryle G The game's almost up for Firepower Rugby Heaven website, 28 May 2008
29. ^ Giteau to return to Brumbies ABC News, 21 February 2009
30. ^ Ryle G Where there's smoke it's a job for Firepower Sydney Morning Herald 24 February 2007
31. ^ McDonald, Margie Souths introduce random testsFoxsports, 10 November 2006
32. ^ Rabbitohs update on Club issues moving forward Souths Official Press Release Thursday 9 Nov 2006
33. ^ ^{a b} Adshead G and Cowan S Discarded computer secrets reveal Firepower's turmoil The West Australian, 28 February 2009, pp. 6-7
34. ^ ^{a b} Cowan S Bid to rein in Firepower chief West Australian p.3, 5 November 2009 (Short-term URL)
35. ^ Klan A Firepower profit 'not my problem' The Australian, 10 November 2009 (short-term URL)
36. ^ Taylor N and Cardy T Front up Johnson Perth Sunday Times, 29 November 2009 p.20
37. ^ 11-22AD Decisions in ASIC’s proceedings against parties associated with fuel technology company at Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 8 February 2011
38. ^ ASIC Successful in proceedings against company associated with Firepower 11-179AD ASIC successful in proceedings against company associated with Firepower at Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 18 August 2011
39. ^ Feneley R and Ryle G Firepower mastermind slipped up, but won't be slipping out Sydney Morning Herald 6 November 2009 (Short-term URL)
40. ^ Firepower hearing adjourned ABC News, 27 November 2009
41. ^ Taylor N Firepower boss Tim Johnston investigated over 'forgery' letter Perth Sunday Times, 8 November 2009 (Short-term URL)
42. ^ Firepower CEO told to dig own grave: court Sydney Morning Herald (BusinessDay) 20 Jan 2010 (attributed to AAP)
43. ^ Taylor N Johnston's $12m debt Perth Sunday Times, p. 2, 15 November 2009 (Short-term URL)
44. ^ ^{a b} Cowan S Firepower investors launch $5m legal bid The West Australian, 3 June 2009, p 1
45. ^ Sean Cowan Firepower victims in bid to recover $40m in The West Australian p. 7, 18 September 2010. Online version accessed 18/9/10

External links

• Gerard Ryle's archive on Firepower
• Documents and articles relating to Firepower at Yahoo News
• Fuel saving follies - ABC Radio National Ockham's Razor