The Great Mint Swindle

It’s the beginning of the 1980s boom in Western Australia. Larrikin brothers Ray, Brian and Peter Mickelberg spend their days abalone fishing, flying planes, looking for adventure and developing new ways of making money. One of their most bizarre ventures is selling a huge fake gold nugget - “The Yellow Rose of Texas” - to tycoon Alan Bond. On 15 April 1982 there is a heist at the Royal Perth Mint. False cheques are presented and over 65kg of gold is stolen. The gold is never seen again. The Mint discovers the crime and all hell breaks loose. There is intense pressure from very high up to clean up this embarrassing mess - and do it fast. Detective Donald Lesley Hancock, a tough old school cop, wants a quick arrest. Circumstantial evidence – and fabricated confessions – all point to the Mickelberg brothers, and they are found guilty. The sentences are harsher than rapists and murderers: Brian; 12 years. Peter; 16 years. Ray; 20 years. Don Hancock, drunk and ecstatic, celebrates his crowning achievement. Putting away the Mickelbergs has made his career. One burning question remains however... where is the gold?