“Upon further forensic testing of the corflute signs stolen from the City of Casey, faecal matter has been found,” the letter read.
“We are hereby requesting that Mr Masuta consent for immediate testing of his faeces and provide this sample (witnessed) to a laboratory of his choosing,” read the fake legal letter, dated October 24.
Masuta said he initially panicked after receiving the letter on November 6, but then suspected it was a hoax.
On Wednesday, he contacted Harrison and McKinnon, who both confirmed they had no knowledge of him, or the matters raised in the letter.
Gurpreet Gill, City of Casey council candidate Credit: A Current Affair
“This is dirty politics… I don’t know anything about missing signboards and there is no proof this was done by us,” Masuta said.
He said he had been bombarded with anonymous threats following the ACA investigation, while his real estate firm had received negative reviews as a result of the allegations.
“My life is already messed up, and I’m losing my business,” Masuta said.
He confirmed the forged letter had been referred to detectives from the Narre Warren crime investigation unit.
“The sample must be fresh, recent and of a size and consistency that will allow for appropriate DNA sensitivity.”
Harrison, who has practised criminal law in Sydney for more than 20 years, confirmed the letter was a fake.
“It certainly wasn’t sent from me. It’s obviously fraudulent. It’s not my letterhead, it’s not my signature and I have no involvement,” Harrison said.
“It was annoying, but also fairly humorous as long as they didn’t ask for the samples to be sent to my office,” he said.
McKinnon also denied any knowledge of Masuta or the recent disappearance of political posters in Casey.
“He called me yesterday in a distressed state about this letter. I have never met the man and I knew nothing about this letter. I spoke to barrister Geoff Harrison, who also knows nothing about it.
“It’s certainly creative. Whilst I practise in crime, crimes involving faeces are not my forte,” McKinnon said.
Gill said he was the target of a politically motivated campaign.
“As reported by A Current Affair, first my election signs were stolen and damaged, and now a fabricated legal letter is being circulated. I humbly ask those that are responsible for these childish activities to stop, as it is causing unnecessary unrest in the community,” he said.
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