ABC Rewind 04 | The Chase for Skase
Oct 10, 2025
Jake Morecambe, a producer and expert on the Christopher Skase saga, dives deep into the drama surrounding Lawrence van der Plaat, Skase's right-hand man. Jake reveals how Lawrence's disillusionment grew amid mismanagement at Halcyon and intimidation tactics as he tried to leave Skase's orbit. They discuss the critical evidence Lawrence brought to regulators and his harrowing demands for cooperation. The podcast explores Skase’s elaborate attempts to evade extradition, including health claims and courtroom theatrics, painting a vivid picture of this high-stakes chase.
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Insider Who Turned Against Skase
- Lawrence van der Plaat moved from London into Christopher Skase's world after dating Skase's stepdaughter Alexandra and quickly became intimate with family business life.
- He worked for Halcyon from 1990, lived at the Fulham house Scase bought for Alex, and absorbed inside knowledge of offshore companies and fund transfers.
Intimidation Forced The Defection
- After resigning, Lawrence found his apartment broken into and later confronted and threatened by Bill Jones and another man who warned he'd be 'finished' if he testified.
- The intruders produced an eviction notice and forced him out, escalating his fear and pushing him to contact Australian investigators.
Deny Full Access To Unvetted Witnesses
- Do verify credibility before granting access to highly confidential evidence when a new defector requests it.
- David Moore refused Lawrence's demand to see the AFP brief because he didn't trust Lawrence's allegiance and required evidence to be earned.
