David Collard is well known to our readers. The ex-PwC partner and failed entrepreneur is now facing court in New York for alleged assault and harassment. What’s the scam?
Entrepreneurship should be celebrated. It involves taking risks, which sometimes leads to failure. Nothing wrong with that, except when the failures are linked to tax evasion and avoiding paying employees. This time, it may have taken an even uglier turn.
Sean Johnson at Open Politics has followed Dave Collard’s exploits closely and can now reveal that he was arrested in the early hours of 15 November 2023 on Madison Avenue for allegedly striking a man in the face with a closed fist, causing a “laceration to the right side of the face and substantial pain.” He is facing five charges but has pleaded not guilty and was released pending the trial hearing on 23 February.
Over the last seven months, the CEO of Scale Facilitation has had his business raided by the AFP over alleged tax fraud and then wound up for insolvency, faced lawsuits for unpaid wages and debts, and defaulted on the purchase of battery start-up Britishvolt. In the wake of the Britvolt failure, he is also being accused of orchestrating fraudulent VAT claims, with or without the help of PwC.
Failure at Scale as high-flying Collard company ordered to wind up
Kim Wingerei is a businessman turned writer and commentator. He is passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Originally from Norway, Kim has lived in Australia for 30 years. Author of ‘Why Democracy is Broken – A Blueprint for Change’.