‘EXTORTION’ IN PARADISE
EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATIONS: The strip club, the ex-manager ‘Mr Vegas’ who fled threats of crime gang violence and the Ultra Tune boss living in fear
AN ex-Surfers Paradise strip club manager’s claim of unfair dismissal has lifted the lid on a crime gang’s threats and violence in an alleged Glitter Strip extortion attempt. Ex-Toy Box Showgirls boss Jimmy
Seoud (above) fled the city overseas to escape at the time while the gang threats prompted venue owner – the Ultra Tune concerned at being further dragged into the dispute,” a Fair Work decision says.
empire’s Sean Buckley – to hire a bodyguard as he feared for his life. “Mr Buckley feared the situation was getting out of control and was
AN ex-Gold Coast strip club boss fled a Middle Eastern crime gang which “bashed” him to recover an alleged drug debt or in an extortion attempt – leaving a wealthy Glitter Strip entrepreneur mate in fear of his life, it has been alleged in the Fair Work Commission.
The claims were detailed in a FWC decision after a failed unfair dismissal bid by ex-Toy Box Showgirls director Jimmy Seoud, who ran the club for then friend Sean Buckley’s NRA Enterprises.
The FWC decision details the breakdown of a long friendship-turned-business-partnership between Mr Seoud and Ultra Group of Companies executive director Mr Buckley “who splashed cash” at him for years.
Mr Buckley, behind the Ultra Tune car repair and roadside assistance empire infamous for controversial TV ads starring Mike Tyson and Charlie Sheen, appointed Mr Seoud to run Toy Box in June 2018.
Mr Buckley, via NRA, bought the venue when the pair were banned from Hollywood Showgirls at Surfers Paradise, the commission said.
It was not explained why they were banned but it’s understood Mr Buckley had a falling out with Hollywood’s owner.
But within 18 months the Toy Box venture and friendship began to crack after Mr Seoud became entangled in a spat with a Middle Eastern crime gang, the FWC said in its decision.
In a termination letter, dated December 27 – days after Mr Buckley all but ceased Mr Seoud’s employment – Mr Buckley claimed his friend had also threatened and attempted to extort him of $350,000.
He accused him in the termination letter – revealed in the FWC decision – of contract breaches including causing a serious risk to health and safety, drug use or possession at work and being intoxicated at work.
After the relationship soured Mr Seoud’s rent-free accommodation in Surfers Paradise, alleged to have been part of his Toy Box salary package, was torn up and he was made to return a $180,000 Mercedes.
The car was bought for him as part of a pay rise deal, evidence before the FWC stated, and trade at the club was set to “explode” due to Mr Seoud’s promotion of it.
Mr Buckley, in FWC evidence, alleged Mr Seoud refused to return the car, instead transporting it to Melbourne, where he kept it with a person with links to bikie gangs.
That person then allegedly threatened “there would be consequences” if the company tried to get it back.
Mr Buckley alleged to the FWC Mr Seoud had become “caught up” in a dispute with Middle Eastern gang members “who were either trying to recover a drug debt, or threatening the club, demanding protection money”.
Mr Seoud – who goes by the nickname Jimmy Vegas – vehemently denies owing any drug debt. He told the Bulletin claims about his work breaches were “bulls--t” and the gang problem was “all about extortion”. Asked by the Bulletin about the evidence alleged in the FWC against him, he said: “A lot of it was crap. Look, at the end of the day he had (multiple) witnesses, I had no witnesses.”
Mr Buckley claimed in evidence at the time of the gang threat he ended up meeting someone on “two occasions” who demanded $85,000.
Mr Seoud said in evidence he fled to Bali to “hide out” after he was slapped four times to the face by a gang member at the club on November 23. He claimed Mr Buckley had told him to not return to work.
“(Mr Seoud) stated he took a suitcase and left everything behind,” the FWC decision states.
Footage of the Toy Box reception shows a group of men arguing with Mr Seoud before one strikes him in his face, then-Toy Box assistant manager Tarra Mann-McLean’s FWC evidence said.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed a man, 34, was issued a 10-day ban notice in connection to the incident. No formal complaint was made.
Police sources said there had at some stage been a dispute between Mr Seoud and suspected members of a Middle Eastern crime gang.
Four days later – when Ultra Tune was filming its TV ad with ex-Baywatch star Pamela Anderson who Mr Seoud greeted for Ultra Tune on arrival at Brisbane Airport – Mr Seoud said the gang was trying to obtain a car he drove.
Within days, Mr Seoud had fled to Bali and his FWC evidence claimed he was “assaulted” by the same gang or its associates.
Mr Buckley claimed he hired a bodyguard for himself as he feared for his life, and he also was concerned Mr Seoud was going to be hurt.
“Mr Buckley considered the situation was getting out of control and he was concerned about being further dragged into the dispute between Mr Seoud and the gang,” Mr Buckley’s evidence claimed, adding he and Mr Seoud agreed he needed to walk away from the club. Mr Seoud was offered a $112,000 administrative position at Ultra Tune in Melbourne instead.
But in December 16 texts, when Mr Seoud asked why his company credit card declined, he rejected the job.
“I’m not coming to Melbourne. It’s not safe for me. You and I need to work this exit strategy because Toy Box, with what’s happening now, I need to get my name out of Toy Box and I’d prefer to do this between you and I, not third parties. I’m happy to resign as a director and resign as a licensee,” Mr Seoud texted, according to messages presented to the FWC.
Mr Buckley texted: “No need to resign. So you’re not going to work in Melbourne?”
Mr Seoud replied: “I can’t until it’s deemed safe. I hope you understand the seriousness. I’m not in any state or frame of mind right now as this has affected my mental status. I want to be in sound mind to be able to give 100 per cent and UT (Ultra Tune).”
Mr Seoud said in a text he felt he had been “pushed out very quickly” when he’d asked to “leave peacefully”.
He wanted to keep the Sur
fers apartment until the second week of January.
Mr Buckley said in a text to Mr Seoud: “You need to get out of the Gold Coast. You’ll be offered a position in Ultra Tune. I’m not pushing you, I’m trying to protect you.”
Commissioner Jennifer Hunt noted “it is clear there was a great deal of turmoil in Mr Seoud’s life” in late 2019.
“He was in fear of his life from a Gold Coast-based gang, the reasons why are either he owed a drug debt or the gang was taking the opportunity to extort the club by demanding protection money”.
But Ms Hunt dismissed Mr Seoud’s unfair dismissal claim
saying it was filed after a required 21 days and his salary was not covered by law as it was above the threshold.
His salary amounted to $177,622.50 including the likely cost of rent and the car.
“I conclude Mr Seoud had understood he did not have a future with (Toy Box), but he was seeking to slow down the action to remove him from the club and the apartment.”
She said it was muddied by the offer of employment with Ultra Tune. Ms Hunt said given the pair’s friendship “it is not surprising Mr Buckley was attempting to protect Mr Seoud”.
“Mr Buckley had splashed cash at Mr Seoud for around
six years,” she said. Ms Hunt also ruled Toy Box job contract agreements submitted, relating to accommodation and the car – contracts which Mr Mr Seoud submitted he had never seen – smelt like a “three-day old rotted fish head”. She ruled Mr Seoud did not sign the documents and his signature could have been forged.
Mr Buckley declined to comment but confirmed his NRA Enterprises still operated the venue, now called Toybox Gentleman’s Club, and Ms Mann-McLean was doing “a great job”.
Mr Seoud told the Bulletin he would not appeal, had no intention of pressing any
charges for being attacked and had moved to Melbourne to work in construction.
Mr Seoud denied owing any drug debt to a gang and said all claims about his Toy Box work performance, involving intoxication, drugs or health and safety risks were “bulls--t”, telling the Bulletin the club had gone downhill since his departure.
“All I know is it was all about extortion.,” he said.
“They were apparently after Sean and myself. I copped the brunt. It’s just bizarre I’ve been thrown as the blame for everything.
“But it wasn’t me, I just go there do my job, and that’s what happened to me.”