By Henry
Ex-criminal turned TikTok celebrity Russell Manser was the owner of a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio, luxury cars and a $3 million company… until his business empire collapsed amid a legal feud and crippling debt.
TheWSTNews Australia can reveal extraordinary details of how reformed bank robber Manser, 56, was quietly embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle that partly led to his prisoner advocacy business plunging into administration.
He died on Saturday evening. His cause of death has still not been released, but there were no suspicious circ*mstances.
Manser had spent 23 years in various prisons around Australia before turning his life around and becoming an advocate for victims of institutional abuse.
He was repeatedly raped in a youth prison, and then again in an adult prison as a teenager, and launched ‘The Voice of a Survivor’ in 2017 to help abused inmates get compensation.
Russell Manser is pictured inside his penthouse apartment overlooking Sydney Harbour
The company went into administration last year and owed about $1 million to the tax office – but it also folded because a former client launched a civil action for more than $800,000.
Despite the collapse of his company, Manser started a podcast called The Stitch Up and continued to live a life of luxury with high-end vehicles, a penthouse on Sydney Harbor and a farm in northern NSW.
A source who maintained contact with Manser until his death could not understand where his money was coming from, telling TheWSTNews Australia: ‘He was living a bit large and I couldn’t figure out how podcasts would sustain that.
“Voice of the Survivor died ia***,” they said.
Russell Manser is pictured with his girlfriend, Liliana Gagic
Failed business and a legal battle
The Voice of a Survivor provided free consultation to victims, offered to prepare a detailed report on their abuse for a fee, and then referred potential claims to law firms.
The company also offered victims ongoing support as they navigated the legal process.
Manser addressed allegations that the company drummed up business by approaching ex-prisoners and calling victims during a May 2022 episode of ABC’s Australian Story.
He told the programme: ‘We’ve been operating for five years now.
“It has not been smooth sailing. People have tried to suggest that we have done things that are really hurtful.’
Manser denied allegations that his firm pressured vulnerable survivors of sexual assault to file compensation cases in exchange for kickbacks from law firms in a practice known as ‘claim farming’.
“We don’t have to claim farm, people approach us,” he told the program.
‘We don’t have to do that. But you know, not for one second would I say we haven’t made any mistakes.
Russell Manser is pictured left in a Versace shirt with Dave Hedgco*ck (centre)
Manser bought a new 2022 Jeep Cherokee and uploaded a photo to his Facebook followers (pictured)
Manser said the new Jeep was the ‘fruits of my labour’ and encouraged his fans to ‘work hard’
He also rejected suggestions that The Voice of Survivor took multi-thousand dollar commissions from law firms for referring prisoners to them and explained how the company made money.
“We actually bill for a report and the support we provide to the survivor,” he said.
The company went into administration last July after a change in legislation prevented victims from making claims against people who had died, making the business model unprofitable.
According to insolvency documents, The Voice of a Survivor earned about $3.2 million in fiscal year 2022, with debts of about $2.8 million.
The company owed about $1 million to the tax office when it went into liquidation last year, but the business also fell because of an $800,000 civil lawsuit from a former client.
According to insolvency documents, the claim revolved around allegations that the company was negligent and breached its duty of care.
The case is being heard in federal court.
Russell Manser was a convicted felon who turned his life around and became an advocate for victims of abuse
Manser snapped up a rare pair of Nike TNs in 2021 worth around $1000 (pictured)
Russell Manser told his Facebook followers that he bought rare Nikes in 2021
Life in luxury
Manser continued to live his life of luxury well after his company collapsed.
He had a social media following of around 300,000 across Instagram and TikTok and often addressed his audience while leaning on the bonnet of one of his high-end cars.
Manser owned a black Mercedes worth about $160,000 and a Jeep Cherokee worth about $80,000, which he bought in 2022.
‘I occasionally enjoy the fruits of my labour,’ he told his Facebook followers alongside a photo of the new car wrapped in a red bow.
‘Work hard, stay focused and chase goals.’
In his videos, he would assure others that they too could live the high life if they would ‘get off the PlayStation and put the bong down’.
When he wasn’t posing with a luxury car, he was filming from his ‘penthouse’ apartment on King Street Wharf, overlooking Sydney Harbour, or from his $2 million farm in northern NSW.
Pictured: Manser’s six-hectare property in northern NSW, worth about $2 million
Pictured: Manser’s sprawling estate in northern NSW
The sprawling property spans six acres with a four-bedroom house along with ten paddocks, stables and a dam.
According to insolvency documents, Manser received $218,000 from the company between July 2021 and July 2023.
This amount included 18 ‘bonus payments’ from The Voice of a Survivor, worth a total of $45,800, and nine additional payments worth $33,200.
Manser Co Pty Ltd, owned by Manser, also received 77 payments worth $139,000.
He would also upload pictures in rare shoes and designer clothes.
The girlfriend talks about their open relationship
On Sunday night, his lover Liliana Gagic posted a series of photos of them together on Instagram.
In the caption, she wrote: ‘Goodbye my lover until we meet again.’
Ms Gagic told TheWSTNews Australia they were in an ‘open relationship’.
“Russell and I were in an open relationship,” she said.
‘I’m currently in Europe so I wasn’t next to him (when he died).
‘Russell was a warrior. Man on a mission. Soul everyone who ever met will remember forever. The man with freedom, frequency and vibration that not many people embody.’
She said he showed ‘love and compassion for victims of sexual abuse’ and described him as ‘one in a million men’.
Manser is survived by his two sons, Ky and Bayley Manser.
