Swim star to fight charges

FORMER Olympic swimmer Neil Brooks says he is looking forward to facing his accusers and “setting the record straight” about an alleged $1.95 million fraud.

Mr Brooks and his wife Linda appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday after it was alleged they were the directors of a Gold Coastbased sports clothing company when investor Glenn Melcheck was misled into buying a 50 per cent share in the business in 2008.

The former member of the famed “Mean Machine” medley relay team that won gold in Moscow in 1980 was granted bail and allowed to return to Hong Kong where he has a coaching contract, but his wife was not so lucky and must front court again today to convince a magistrate to allow her to reside in Bali.

Mr Brooks said he voluntarily returned to Australia after his wife was charged last month, and yesterday was the first time he had spoken to police about the allegations.

“I am actually looking forward to facing my accusers and setting the record straight.”