A man behind a Victorian charity event meant to support bushfire-affected communities has been revealed to have a hidden past filled with deception and fraud.
Earlier this year, a planned charity event called Recover Grampians, organized by the registered charity Disaster Recovery Army Inc., was abruptly cancelled. The event, founded by CEO Jay Brady, aimed to raise funds after devastating fires hit the Grampians National Park. However, the event’s website was taken down and a GoFundMe campaign—already raising nearly $16,000—was closed after local businesses voiced concerns about its legitimacy.
An investigation by ABC has uncovered that Brady previously went by the name Jason Palankay, a man with a long criminal history of deception-related offences, including time spent in prison. Court records show that in 2011, while facing several charges of obtaining property by deception, a judge described Palankay as “an artful, skilful and sophisticated fraudster,” noting that he was “a persistent offender who has not been deterred by previous sentences.”
Further court documents revealed a psychological report diagnosing Palankay with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, highlighting his “grandiose sense of self-importance.”
When approached by ABC, Brady did not deny his past convictions but refused to discuss details, citing ongoing legal matters. He stated that he had changed his surname from Palankay “a long time ago” for “personal family reasons.”
The shocking revelations have raised serious concerns over the credibility of charities and the importance of transparency when dealing with community donations.