Police Arrest 'dead' Tycoon
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday November 8, 2005
A MILLIONAIRE businessman who was thought to have drowned in a boating accident on Port Stephens five years ago was in custody last night accused of staging his own disappearance to claim his life insurance.
Harry Gordon, once a flamboyant Sydney engineer, was arrested in a major police operation as he stepped off an international flight at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport yesterday.The Herald understands a police strike force named Rebellion, which was set up to investigate claims Gordon was still alive, was working with police in several countries including Britain, Fiji and New Zealand.The Australian Federal Police and Customs officials have also been involved in the investigation.Lower Hunter crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Humphrey, who headed up Strike Force Rebellion, last night confirmed "a man" was "assisting police with inquiries" after being arrested at a "national airport this afternoon".It is more than five years since Gordon sparked a police inquiry when his 4.8-metre runabout was recovered in the Karuah River with a damaged windscreen and three empty bottles of champagne on the boat's floor.The discovery of the damaged boat was made a day after Gordon left his North Arm Cove weekender.Although his body was never recovered, State Coroner John Abernethy discounted theories that he could still be alive at an inquest in April 2001.Mr Abernethy ruled Gordon had died after being ejected from his boat when it struck a navigation marker.Gordon was expected to be charged with a range of offences last night. Dan Proudman
© 2005 Newcastle Herald
