Homes have been raided and property seized as part of an ongoing investigation into embattled Perth builder Nicheliving.
The company has been banned from building houses for 10 years after hundreds of customers were left stranded when Nicheliving took years longer than promised to complete their homes.
The spotlight has now turned to company directors Ronnie Michel-Elhaj and Paul Bitdorf, whose homes were raided last week as part of an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) investigation.
ASIC has confirmed the operation was conducted with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police.
The ABC understands laptops and phones were also seized during the raid.
A third property was searched in Hobart.
It’s not known what triggered the fresh probe, with ASIC saying in a statement that investigations were ongoing.
Nicheliving managing director Ronnie Michel-Elhaj. (Supplied)
Mr Michel-Elhaj and Mr Bitdorf have been contacted for comment.
Last year, the WA government reached an agreement with the two directors to surrender their building licences.
That meant customers could access building indemnity insurance payments of up to $200,000 to finish building their homes.
WA Premier Roger Cook this morning recognised the importance of the latest Nicheliving probe.
“It is important that everyone knows that we are focused on making sure that our residential housing construction industry is working in the interests of everyone, particularly in terms of the clients with whom they’ve struck contracts,” he said.
“We welcome any opportunity to see that work continuing.”
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