SOUTH African couple Erle and Leslie Hartley just wanted a better life for their young daughter Erin when they decided to migrate to Australia.
But their bid for permeant residency has been thrown into peril after being swindled out of almost $40,000 by Adelaide pair Anthony Harrison, 41, and Meshelle Wheare, 42.
“We had to escape South Africa because of the violence,” Mr Hartley told The Advertiser.
“My daughter had a firearm pointed at her twice — there was no future for a young white woman in South Africa.
“We are terrified as to what the future might hold.”
Harrison and Wheare were sentenced in the District Court last week to two years and five months jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.
The sentences were fully suspended on the condition the pair enter a good behaviour bond for two years.
They both pleaded guilty to dishonesty charges.
Mr Hartley, his wife, 12-year-old daughter and mother-in-law Geraldine flew from South Africa to Australia on July 7, 2009, on student visas.
Before leaving, the family contacted Harrison, an Adelaide-based migration consultant, who agreed to manage their bid for Established Business Australia (EBA) visas which would get them permanent residency.
To qualify, the Hartley family needed to purchase a significant share in a business, and subject to certain criteria, take an active role in the business for more than 18 months.
Meshelle Ann Wheare. Picture: Simon Cross
Source: News Corp Australia
Anthony Leonard Harrison. Picture: Simon Cross
Source: News Corp Australia
An agreement was struck between Harrison and Wheare — who were married at the time — and the Hartley family to buy hairdressing salon Palladeum Hair at SAKS in Hyde Park.
Salon owner Alec Kostadinoff agreed to sell it to Wheare for $50,000 but Mr Hartley was told the business would cost $180,000.
The Hartley family paid a total $39,000 towards the business.
The salon was not making a significant profit, Harrison’s migration consultancy firm failed and he declared bankruptcy. Wheare decided the salon needed to be sold.
She sent her accountant a copy of the original agreement for the purchase of the business, which she admitted to altering by changing the purchase price from $50,000 to $180,000.
Mr Hartley said his repeated requests to look at the salon’s financial documents were ignored until he requested a copy of the sales agreement from Mr Kostadinoff. He then made a complaint to the SA Police’s Major Fraud Squad.
In sentencing, Justice Peter Brebner said the pair deprived the Hartley family, who live in Melbourne, of the chance to operate a business.
“They have been unable to satisfy the requirements of permanent residency,” he said.
The Hartleys are currently on bridging visas and have applied for a family sponsorship visa, which can take up to 10 years to be granted.
Adelaide couple sentenced for swindling $40,000 from South African migrant family
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