Concert promoter Andrew McManus pleads guilty over $702,000 cash in suitcase

Melbourne music promoter Andrew McManus has pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice in the matter of a suitcase containing over $700,000 in cash found in a Sydney hotel in 2011. 

According to Fairfax media, the 55-year-old pleaded guilty to lying to police in matters relating to ownership of the suitcase on Tuesday (23rd August) and could reportedly face jail time, though previous charges of participating in a criminal group and attempting to gain a financial advantage by deception by claiming the cash was his have been dropped. 

The concert promoter, who brought acts such as Fleetwood Mac, KISS, Luciano Pavarotti and the Beach Boys to Australia, was one of five people arrested in Australia and the USA last September following the discovery of the mysterious suitcase containing $702,000 at Hilton Hotel.

Craig Haeusler, Kings Cross lawyer Michael Croke, and pastry shop owner Zeki Atilgan were also arrested in Sydney last year, while US businessman Owen Hanson Junior was arrested in San Diego.

The international investigation, conducted by the NSW Police and the FBI, dates back to 2011 when Hanson ran a Advanced Peptide Solutions business with former cage fighter Sean Carolan, who was found at the hotel with the suitcase.

McManus told NSW Police in an interview in April 2012 "it's not the proceeds of crime, it's the proceeds of Andrew McManus.

"I gave someone 700 large, and you've found someone with 700 large. It's my 700 large," 

He also told Police that the cash was part of a business deal, but due to issues with the Australian Tax Office, he had arranged for Hanson, "a very good friend of a friend", to pay US$700,000 to book a ZZ tour, but then decided he wanted the money back to fund a Lenny Kravitz tour.

Earlier this year, McManus took to Facebook to emphatically deny the allegations, writing "I have never been bankrupt and I will fight these allegations until my last breath."

McManus is scheduled to appear in Sydney's District Court this Friday where a sentencing date will be confirmed.

In 2010, McManus became embroiled in the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal after it was revealed that his company Andrew McManus Presents International was used to channel illegal payments to Storm players.

He was subsequently fined by the Australian Tax Office over the matter and in 2011, his former company Andrew McManus Presents was put into liquidation owing the tax office $2.4 million.

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