An Aberdeen businessman who was once one of Scotland’s richest people is being investigated by police over more than £1.1million which was withdrawn from an account he holds with his family. We can reveal today that Police Scotland is investigating former Grampian Industrialist of the Year Calum Melville after a complaint was made regarding a joint account he holds with his mother, Dorothy, and brother, Stuart.
It is understood that at least four transactions – which led to £1.1million being transferred into an account held by Calum and his wife, Susan – are the subject of a probe.
The money in question was withdrawn from the Credit Suisse account between September and November 2010.
Last night, Police Scotland confirmed an investigation was under way.
“As enquiries are still ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment meantime,” a spokesman said.
Mr Melville declined to comment. His brother, Stuart, also refused to speak when contacted.
The pair were at one point worth £124million according to the Sunday Times rich list, placing them among Scotland’s wealthiest.
They amassed a huge fortune after selling their company, GTC Group, to Cosalt in 2007 – creating Cosalt Offshore.
Calum remained as head of offshore operations at Cosalt Offshore and in 2009, he added to his business interests by joining the board of Dundee FC.
However, by September 2010, he was suspended by Cosalt as the firm mounted an investigation into “business practices” at the Aberdeen arm.
Weeks later, he also quit the Dens Park board on the same morning he had been due to give evidence at an employment tribunal raised by sacked former manager Jocky Scott.
Lawyers for Dundee – which later went into administration – said he was not “physically and mentally” capable of giving evidence due to the ongoing investigation into his business dealings.
As well as the allegations related to the family bank account, Police Scotland has also been investigating allegations of fraud at Cosalt Offshore during Mr Melville’s tenure.
Detectives have been considering files submitted by Cosalt following a civil court claim.
The Crown Office is currently giving “full and careful” consideration to the report – to decide whether anyone should face prosecution.
The civil battle centred on claims made by Cosalt Offshore that equipment worth millions had not been received by its Aberdeen arm.
The firm alleged in 2010 that there may have been a fraud involving payments to a London-registered company, Meapac, for goods that were never delivered, the proceeds of which would end up in accounts controlled by Calum Melville and others.
The case was settled out of court in October 2012 and Cosalt was paid £2million. Calum Melville stressed he was not admitting liability for an alleged multimillion-pound fraud and that there were “very strong business reasons” for avoiding court action.
The pair were at one point worth £124m according to the Sunday Times rich list
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