Alleged ABS insider trader Lukas Kamay, the three time property investor with restraining order

Alleged ABS insider trader Lukas Kamay, the three time property investor with restraining order
Jonathan ChancellorDecember 7, 2020

Lukas Kamay, the young NAB dealing desk broker arrested in the alleged ABS insider trading case, was not only the buyer of one of the four apartments sold in the recent Channel 9 The Block series.

He had two other Victorian properties in his property portfolio, all now with restraining orders.

Property Observer has ascertained he owned small investor property at Sebastopol and Darley, in regional Victoria.

The Silverdale Drive, Darley property, near Ballan in the Moorabool municipality, cost $289,000 in 2011. The onethhouse website suggests its current value sits between $275,000 and $311,300.

The four bedroom Baudinette Drive, Sebastopol property, near Ballarat, was bought for $120,000 in June last year, both purchases occurring before any of the alleged foreign exchange trading.

Onethehouse gives its likely value estimate now as between $113,100 and $127,100.

It was available for rent earlier this year at $280 a week.

The more recent headline grabbing Albert Park purchase was the luxury apartment decorated by the runner-up Adelaide twins, Alisa and Lysandra which sold at its 8 April auction for $2.375 million — a massive $616,000 above the reserve of $1.759 million.

3/47 O'Grady Street, ALBERT PARK  - Rental - Dingle Partners 

NAB broker Lukas Kamay, who turned 26 on Anzac Day, has been accused of using insider Australian Bureau of Statistics information to make $7 million-plus by trading in the Australian dollar online over the past 10 months.

He was arrested on Friday last week after a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Police allege Kamay, of Melbourne, used confidential ABS statistics to trade online, betting against foreign exchange derivative movements in the Australian dollar after allegedly being in receipt of national economic, retail trade and labour-force statistics before the normal 11.30am release.

After it was alleged Mr Kamay profited between August 2013 and May this year with around $7 million made from the trades, police froze assets including property, a $15,000 car - and $6.5 million in bank accounts.

The Sunday Herald Sun uncovered Kamay's $2,375,000 purchase, which Property Observer believes along with the other sales in the block, has yet to settle.

The three bedroom apartment was marketed for Alisa and Lysandra, the former SA police officers, by the Melbourne CBD agents, Anton Wongtrakun and Rochelle Wilson from Dingle Partners.

HS_cover_SUN.jpg

Property Observer gleans it unlikely that settlement of apartment 3 at 47 O'Grady Street will occur as expected by the production company, Watercress Productions with the reputed 20% deposit likely to be subject to legal proceedings. Watercress will have rights of termination and compensation.

The twins were not the overall winners, so it will not affect the final result of the television renovation gameshow, and in all likelihood it will not affect their payout as the outcome of the auction night are likely to be honoured by Watercress and Channel 9.

There were six or seven competitive bidders on the apartment, according to one attending buyers' agent, Frank Valentic who was there for an intending buyer from Horsham. It appeared to be knocked down to another buyers' agent. The exact intended ownership of the apartment has yet to determined, according to News Ltd, as the ASIC and the AFP continue their investigation. It is possible the purchase was made through one of two companies directed by Kamay, L.A. Promotions Pty Ltd or Lukam Pty Ltd which was established in April this year.

There  is now a caveat taken  over the asset by the AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce.

Kamay, who appeared briefly in court in Melbourne last Friday, arranged $500,000 in bail, agreeing to surrender his passport, and live with his parents at their 1000 square metre property in the Melbourne suburb of Eaglemont. He is due back in court on August 24 for a committal mention.

It appears Kamay secured the apartment as an investment property as Dingle Partners, until this week, had it listed as available with a $2,500 weekly asking price, reflecting a gross 5.4% rental yield. 

It was advertised as available for rent from 26 May, presumably around its intended settlement. 

 
 
FOR RENT    $2500 per week
3
3
2
 
FURNISHED HIGH END LOFT APARTMENT WITH A QUINTESSENTIAL MANHATTAN FEEL
3/ 47 O'GRADY STREET ALBERT PARK

Available
26 May 2014

Bond
$15,000

Rent per calendar month
$10,863

The apartment was marketed before being taken down from the website as a cutting edge transformation over three state-of-the-art floors."The international standard warehouse inspired apartment fuses innovative interior design with bespoke style to create a spectacular inner city abode."

The four apartments were recently installed into a red brick former cinema turned office warehouse that was offloaded by a company associated with Lloyd Williams, the Melbourne property developer.

The Block Albert Park results were as follows:

  1. Steve and Chantelle, 1/47 O’Grady: $2.47 million ($636,000 above the adjusted reserve)
  2. Alisa and Lysandra, 3/47 O’Grady: $2.375 million ($616,000 above the adjusted reserve)
  3. Kyal and Kara, 2/47 O’Grady: $2.44 million ($567,250 above the adjusted reserve)
  4. Brad and Dale, 4/47 O’Grady: $2.31 million ($507,250 above the adjusted reserve)

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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