Two men have been charged following a major investigation into an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud against Queensland-based construction company Shadforth Civil Contractors, with authorities alleging the scheme operated over several years and resulted in losses exceeding $14 million. The charges follow an extensive inquiry conducted by the Queensland Police Service's Financial and Cyber Crime Group.
Police allege the fraud involved an insider arrangement in which one of the accused, a former employee of the company, worked with an external contractor to manipulate procurement and payment processes. Investigators claim the arrangement enabled fraudulent invoices to be submitted and approved, allowing substantial sums of money to be transferred from the company over an extended period.
According to police, the alleged offending occurred between 2018 and 2023. During that time, the accused men allegedly exploited internal systems and business relationships to conceal improper transactions. Authorities allege false or inflated invoices were processed for services that were either not provided or were significantly overstated in value.
The investigation began after irregularities were detected within the company's financial records. Internal reviews reportedly identified unusual payment patterns, prompting further scrutiny and eventually leading to a police referral. Financial investigators then conducted a detailed examination of banking records, business transactions and company documentation.
Queensland Police allege the fraudulent conduct caused losses of approximately $14 million. Investigators claim the funds were transferred through various accounts as part of the alleged scheme. As a result of the inquiry, police executed search warrants and gathered financial evidence before laying charges.
The two accused men now face multiple fraud-related offences. Court documents indicate the allegations involve dishonestly causing financial loss, obtaining financial advantage through deception and other offences associated with serious economic crime. The charges have not yet been tested in court.
Fraud investigations of this scale are relatively uncommon and often require lengthy forensic accounting reviews. Detectives typically work alongside financial specialists to reconstruct transactions, identify money flows and determine whether internal controls were deliberately circumvented.
The case also highlights the growing focus on corporate fraud and insider threats within Australian businesses. Experts note that organisations are increasingly investing in stronger governance systems, procurement oversight and auditing procedures to reduce the risk of internal fraud. Construction and infrastructure companies can be particularly vulnerable because of the large number of suppliers, subcontractors and high-value transactions involved in major projects.
Police have emphasised that the allegations remain before the courts and that both men are entitled to the presumption of innocence. The prosecution will be required to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The matter is expected to proceed through Queensland's court system in coming months, where prosecutors will present evidence relating to the alleged financial arrangements and payment approvals. If proven, the case would represent one of the larger alleged corporate fraud matters investigated in Queensland in recent years.
Authorities say economic crime remains a significant focus for law enforcement because large-scale fraud can have substantial impacts on businesses, employees, shareholders and the broader economy. Investigators continue to encourage companies to report suspicious financial activity and maintain strong internal controls to prevent similar incidents.
