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17h ago

AFP Opens Probe Into WiseTech Founder Over Alleged Exploitation and False Visa Claims

A complaint by a former Kyckr chief executive has prompted the police inquiry and media reports have driven a steep fall in WiseTech’s share price.

Wisetech Global's logo is pictured at the company's IPO launch at the Australian Stock Exchange in Sydney, April 11, 2016. Freight and logistics software company Wisetech listed on ASX today with an expected market cap of just under A$1 billion. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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Overview

  • The Australian Federal Police’s human exploitation taskforce opened a formal investigation on Sunday after former Kyckr CEO Kathy Phelan lodged a complaint about Richard White.
  • Phelan alleges White fabricated a Kyckr role and used company letterhead to create the appearance of sponsoring a visa for a woman who had earlier accused White of exploiting her immigration and financial vulnerability for sex.
  • The woman at the centre of earlier court filings, Caroline Heidemann, reached a settlement with White in 2025 after alleging he controlled her finances and threatened her immigration status.
  • WiseTech shares plunged roughly 11 percent in early trading to about A$32.75, cutting the company’s market value to around A$11 billion as investors reacted to reports of the probe.
  • White is the founder and largest shareholder of WiseTech and is already facing an ASIC inquiry over alleged blackout‑period share trades; police have not disclosed any charges and Kyckr’s related legal disputes are ongoing.