Creditors owed nearly $3 million

Thursday, 9 January 2025

The original recruitment agency of an award-winning boss now accused of tax evasion owes a further $1.3 million to creditors, bringing the total outstanding figure close to $3m.

Cassandra Knox registered Trinity Employment Services in February 2021. It was liquidated on May 30, owing $1.55m to Inland Revenue and $25,000 to employees.

A further $1.29m owing to unsecured creditors was revealed in a second liquidators report, published in December. This report said Trinity Employment’s shareholders current account was overdrawn too, and “demands” had been made. Knox holds 95% of the shares.

Since the initial report all vehicles and plant and equipment had been sold, outstanding invoices paid and accounts settled.

The Press understands some Trinity Employment staff who followed Knox to her new business, and previously spoke positively of her, have since resigned.'/>

Two hours and 55 minutes after Trinity Employment was liquidated Knox registered a second recruitment agency named Elite Employment under her ex-husband’s surname, Slumskie.

Knox has since been accused of aiding and abetting Elite Employment to withhold a GST return for the periods ending July 31 and September 30, 2024, and to withhold tax for a purpose other than payment to Inland Revenue, according to court documents.

She has not entered pleas to the charges and is due to reappear in the Christchurch District Court in early February.

Former staff of Trinity Employment spoke to The Press in August with claims of manipulation, an unhappy work environment, and late wages blamed on the bank.

Doubts were raised about a commerce degree that Knox previously listed on her LinkedIn profile, as she did not appear in the Otago University graduate database.

The Press understands some Trinity Employment staff who followed Knox to her new business, and previously spoke positively of her, have since resigned.

Knox won the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader Award in 2022.