Shocking allegations made against one of Australia’s wealthiest men Richard White, accusing him of “expecting” sex from investing in a female entrepreneur’s business, are set to be tested in the Federal Court of Australia this month.
Linda Rogan, the owner of Laser Clinics Australia in three locations across Australia and New Zealand, is contesting a bankruptcy notice issued by White on August 15. Her allegations against White, billionaire and co-founder of WiseTech Global, were revealed in an affidavit dated September 12, filed to the court as part of the legal proceedings.
The bankruptcy notice is in relation to more than $92,000 worth of furniture in a $13 million mansion in the Sydney eastern suburb of Vaucluse. The property was purchased by White in September 2022 for Rogan and her children to live in: at the time, the pair were in a covert sexual relationship.
Rogan never moved in to the property, after White’s girlfriend, former criminal defence lawyer Zena Nasser, found out about the affair.
It was actually Nasser who introduced Rogan and White to one another, after Nasser and Rogan connected on Instagram in June 2022. The following month, the women met at the Bionik Wellness clinic in Rose Bay, and Nasser introduced Rogan to White via a FaceTime call.
According to Rogan’s affidavit, the group had dinner together in August 2022, and Rogan and White began texting following the dinner.
“When I met Richard, I genuinely believed he was interested in investing in my business,” Rogan’s affidavit reads. “I was separated from my husband, caring for three children and my teenage son had only recently suffered a devastating brain injury.
“After a few weeks I realised Richard was pursuing a sexual relationship.”
Rogan recalled a trip to New York on 17 September 2022 “at the request of Richard”. White arranged Rogan’s flights, and upon arriving at the hotel, she discovered only one suite was arranged for them both.
“I realised that Richard expected me to enter into a sexual relationship with him to fulfil the promise that he would invest in my business,” Rogan said in her affidavit.
“So I stayed with Richard in his suite and our relationship became sexual.”
Rogan and White continued texting via WhatsApp throughout August 2022, where White allegedly told Rogan words to the effect that he wanted to “make you and your business massively successful”.
White tabled a business deal with Rogan, offering a salary of at least $1 million for her “newly formed company”. He also offered to purchase a property for Rogan and her children to live in. According to the affidavit, the business deal never transpired, and Rogan never moved in to the property.
White’s legal team issued Rogan the bankruptcy notice for the furniture in the $13 million Vaucluse home on August 15. Bankruptcy notices require those who receive it to repay debts within 21 days, and if this is not paid, it is considered an act of bankruptcy.
Rogan is disputing the notice, and the matter will go to a preliminary hearing in the Federal Court in Sydney on October 15.