Multiplex: the plot thickens

The plot to extort monies from Multiplex thickened this week, with the finger of suspicion moving away from the Russian Mafia, to a well read - if somewhat deranged - subcontractor, who allegedly used tactics from The Godfather and clues from The Da Vinci Code to further his dastardly aims.
Australian television station Channel 9 claims a former Multiplex subcontractor was under surveillance, after reports that he had used gruesome scare tactics on one of Multiplex's accountants a year ago.
Although police received no official complaint at the time, the subcontractor was suspected of dumping the heads of kangaroos on Multiplex accountant David Hick's yacht at Walsh Bay in Sydney last year.
This latest development follows revelations in Australia's Daily Telegraph that Multiplex used a 400-year-old code popularised in the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code to communicate with the extortionist.
An encrypted public notice placed in The Weekend Australian read when decoded: "Problem please contact me on email ar@multiplex.biz."
The company's chief executive Andrew Roberts placed the ad, which could only be deciphered by using the keyword "destroy multiplex".
Multiplex's head office in Sydney received a letter last month threatening to shoot a crane driver at a Multiplex site somewhere in the world unless the company handed over Aus$50m. Crane drivers at Multiplex sites including Wembley were put on alert as the deadline passed (CJ 2 March).
Multiplex declined to comment on the latest developments.
Subcontractors in Australia and the UK say Multiplex has made enemies through its poor payment record. "Maybe Multiplex just picked on the wrong guy this time," said one.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said it was continuing to monitor the situation with its Australian counterparts.