Latest news with #Commonwealth Bank
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Teenage mum-of-two accused of recruiting underage girls for twisted bank boss reveals the astonishing sum she made in just 48 hours - as fresh details emerge about 'money row' at hotel room, before he later killed himself
The teenager allegedly behind a banking executive's underage sex charge - which triggered his suicide 48 hours later - bragged about making '$16,000 in two days'. Mother-of-two Shauntelle Went, 18, is accused of bringing the young girls to the Brisbane hotel room of high-flying Commonwealth Bank boss Christopher James McCann, 50, in May. When he opened the door, McCann changed his mind after a row over the price, and phoned the hotel's reception to demand the girls be removed. NSW Police swooped on the married father-of-two, from Curl Curl on Sydney 's northern beaches, as he arrived at Sydney Airport and extradited him to Queensland. On Monday, he was charged with one count of using the internet to procure children under 16, before he was granted bail to live with a friend on the Gold Coast. On Wednesday, he drove to a beauty spot at Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland, where he plunged to his death. Queensland Police confirmed his death is not being treated as suspicious, with a report being prepared for the Coroner. On Monday, Brisbane Magistrates Court had heard McCann made arrangements with Went and agreed a price for her to bring her the two girls, aged 14 and 15. But the deal turned sour when she allegedly sent the young girls to the door of his room at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane's CBD while she remained in the lobby. After McCann queried the price, he then asked hotel staff to escort all three off the premises, the court was told. Went, who proudly promotes her sex services on social media, regularly posts teasing videos and encourages potential clients to 'ask for my prices'. Shortly after the incident which led to the charges against McCann, Went boasted on TikTok in June: 'Made like $16,000 in, like, two days.' She also shared a series of screenshots of instant bank transfers into her account to substantiate her income boasts. In another clip, the teenager taunts trolls who attacked her looks in a series of videos filmed on her sofa. 'I love how it's all you broke f***s saying she is ugly when I post about my OnlyFans,' she blasted. 'Stay mad. Stay jealous.' On Wednesday, Christopher James McCann drove to a beauty spot at Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland, where he plunged to his death The court heard on Monday that McCann was accused of committing a 'terribly serious offence' by engaging the Brisbane teen to allegedly supply the young teens. 'You travelled interstate frequently,' Magistrate Louise Shephard told McCann. 'You formed some kind of connection with (Went). On May 14, police intercepted messages between you and her. 'The allegation is you... queried her about whether she had younger friends that she worked with.' McCann reportedly stood in the dock looking either down or straight ahead throughout the hearing. 'Later that evening, Went and the girls attended (the five-star Brisbane CBD hotel),' Magistrate Shephard continued. 'The two girls went to the room, and you contacted the front desk to ask them to leave. It is not alleged the girls entered the room.' The matter was referred by NSW Police to Task Force Argos, Queensland's child exploitation unit, and on July 8, a search warrant was executed at McCann's Sydney home. Christopher James McCann was also prohibited from having any contact with children, except for his own sons, and was required to stay with his friend in Queensland A prosecutor opposed bail, citing concerns McCann could reoffend and posed a risk to the community. McCann's barrister David Jones said his client's assets would be frozen, and that he had no prior criminal record. He told the court McCann was prepared to abide by strict conditions and remain in Queensland for the duration of proceedings. Magistrate Shephard noted McCann had been sacked by Commonwealth Bank in the wake of the charges. He was granted strict conditional bail, including an overnight curfew, a ban on encrypted messaging apps, and permission to use only one mobile phone. He was also prohibited from having any contact with children, except for his own sons, and was required to stay with his friend in Queensland. On Wednesday though, he drove from his friend's home to the beauty spot where he fell to his death. Went was also granted bail on Monday and is scheduled to return to court on August 4. If you or someone you know needs confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Former CBA executive Christopher James McCann's final days after child procurement charge
A fortnight ago, Christopher James McCann was living a life of relative anonymity in Curl Curl. The married father-of-two travelled frequently interstate as the head of health and social infrastructure at Commonwealth Bank in Sydney — a position he'd held for the past 11 months. Behind the scenes, however, NSW Police officers and State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad had established Strike Force Coalhurst in March to investigate the 50-year-old over his alleged attempts to procure teenage girls for sex at his Brisbane hotel room. The matter had been referred to the Queensland Police Service's child exploitation unit, Taskforce Argos. The months-long investigation by both police services culminated in Mr McCann's arrest at Sydney Airport and extradition to Queensland on July 10. On Monday, Mr McCann was charged with a single count of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act at Brisbane Arrests Court, where he was granted bail to reappear on August 4. Forty-eight hours later, his body was found at Springbrook National Park, a popular tourist and bushwalking spot on the Gold Coast. Shocked tourists witnessed police cars and an ambulance speed past them as they made their way back to their holiday homes. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday (Wednesday),' a Queensland Police spokesperson said. On Monday, the court was told police alleged Mr McCann – who had worked in corporate finance, including at ANZ and Westpac, for more than two decades – had formed a 'connection' with his co-accused, sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went. It is further alleged Mr McCann was organising to use the 18-year-old's services while in Brisbane in May but queried if she had any 'younger friends' she worked with. 'You made an arrangement and agreed on a price to use Ms Went's services and that of two underage girls,' magistrate Louise Shepherd said in her summary of the police allegations. The teen girls, aged 14 and 15, and Ms Went allegedly attended the Sofitel Hotel, but Ms Shepherd said it was not alleged the girls went up to Mr McCann's room. The court was told Mr McCann was no longer employed by Commonwealth Bank as a result of the charges. His financial accounts had also been frozen by detectives. Police opposed Mr McCann's bail, claiming there was a risk of further offending and general safety to the community Ms Shepherd also said Mr McCann would not necessarily serve any time in custody if convicted and granted him bail on strict conditions. He had to live with a university lecturer friend near Mudgeeraba, about 20km north-east of Springbrook and not have contact with children except his own sons. Mr McCann's lawyer David Jones KC took issue with affidavits filed by the arresting officer that he said engaged in 'speculation' and were lacking in objectivity. He also pointed to an affidavit prepared by a clinical psychologist who did not even assess his client. Mr Jones said the police material was speculative and engaging in 'fortune telling', telling the court his client was not in a show-cause position and therefore had a prima facie case for bail being granted. 'What would ordinarily be against an applicant, they have flipped,' Mr Jones said. 'So the fact he's 50 years old with no criminal history, doesn't use drugs, doesn't drink – ordinarily for everybody else, that would be a benefit, but for him, that's a disadvantage.' Ms Shepherd granted Mr McCann bail – ordering him to report to police once a week, not to drink or use illicit drugs and be subject to drug testing. He was also ordered to possess only one phone. Ms Went was also granted bail during an application before Ms Shepherd. The court was told Ms Went was receiving a disability support pension and received money through her OnlyFans account, but she did not perform in-person sex work. Both Mr McCann and Ms Went had been due to return to court on August 4.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major banks, Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings, Australia Post extend $25 million lifeline for Armaguard in cash win
The Big Four banks and the country's largest retailers have agreed to give $25 million to keep cash transit company Armaguard operating until the end of the year. Armaguard was given a $50 million lifeline last year to keep it afloat as cash use plummets, increasing the cost of delivering banknotes across the country. Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings and Australia Post have extended the Armaguard lifeline, multiple people involved in the negotiations confirmed to The Australian Financial Review. The agreement is expected to be announced today. The Australian Banking Association said the 'funding extension will allow work to continue on the development of an independent pricing mechanism to support a sustainable cash in transit business in the longer term'. RELATED Armaguard move set to protect cash as essential service amid looming deadline ATO tax return warning for 2 million Aussies over dangerous act Warning for working from home Aussies over common practice Deloitte Access Economics was called in in May to come up with a new pricing structure. Essential services like healthcare, electricity and disability support have their pricing models established by independent bodies. The banks have also reportedly commissioned Barrenjoey Capital Partners as they assess options for Armaguard, including whether it would be better funded by the banks and retailers who rely on it to deliver cash to branches and stores across the country. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) authorised the Australian Banking Association and major retailers to collaborate on ensuring the continuity of cash-in-transit services on June 25. The authorisation allows the parties to continue to provide financial support to Armaguard and develop, but not implement, an independent pricing mechanism. Armaguard handles 90 per cent of all cash movements around Australia. It has blamed the rapidly declining use of cash for its issues, with cash usage dropping from 62 per cent of all in-person transactions in 2010 to just 13 per cent in 2022. The decline means it is more expensive for Armaguard to deliver banknotes across the country. Consultants at Accenture have forecast cash will account for just 4 per cent of transactions in Australia by 2030. Since the first deal was inked in the middle of 2024, Armguard has been cutting costs including by simplifying the routes it takes to deliver physical money across Australia. The ABA has been coordinating the industry's response to the Armaguard issue, which kicked off after the ACCC allowed Armaguard to acquire its major rival Prosegur in in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- News.com.au
Commonwealth Bank executive charged in child exploitation case
A senior Commonwealth Bank executive has been extradited to Queensland and charged after allegedly attempting to procure two underage girls for sex at a Brisbane hotel. Christopher McCann, 50, was arrested by NSW detectives at Sydney Airport on Tuesday, He was then extradited to Brisbane and appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, facing one count of using electronic communication to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act. Police will allege Mr McCann befriended a Brisbane sex worker and convinced her to lure two teenage girls to a hotel in May. The group allegedly met one night, but a concerned hotel staff member raised the alarm. Queensland authorities were first alerted after the NSW Police sex crimes squad launched Strike Force Coalhurst in March to investigate Mr McCann's alleged attempts to procure a child under 16. Police identified him while he was visiting Brisbane and referred the case to Queensland's child exploitation unit, Taskforce Argos. Officers launched a two-month investigation, and a Queensland court later issued a warrant for his arrest. Mr McCann was taken into custody by NSW detectives on July 9. Argos Detective Acting Inspector Cameron Burke said the arrest served as a stark reminder to anyone seeking to exploit or harm children. 'Argos investigators and police across the country work collaboratively to share information, intelligence and investigative assistance,' Inspector Burke said. 'We are constantly online, working tirelessly to identify and apprehend offenders. 'Our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community remains unwavering, and we will continue to pursue those who pose a threat to children.' Sex crimes squad commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the arrest was the result of strong interagency co-operation and a common goal of keeping communities safe. 'Working closely with Queensland Police, we were able to track a suspect who believed interstate travel would allow him to evade detection. He was wrong,' Superintendent Doherty said. 'These joint efforts demonstrate that our law enforcement capabilities don't stop at state borders. If you fly interstate to commit crimes, know that our reach is national.'
