Once named one of Scotland’s richest men, Calum Melville appeared to have it all.
The oil and gas entrepreneur rose to prominence after taking over the family business – GTC Group – at the age of 21.
As his empire grew, a huge home in Rubislaw Den – one of Aberdeen’s most exclusive addresses – and a Bentley in the driveway were signs of his success.
GTC was turning over £27million and had grown to employ more than 250 people. By the time he sold his firm to Grimsby-based Cosalt in 2007, he and his family were estimated to have amassed a £100million fortune.
In 2009, he joined the board of Scottish First Division side Dundee FC, and his rumoured £1.6million investment had propelled the Dens Park side to the top of the table. He resigned 18 months later.
His seemingly unstoppable success, along with generous donations to local charities, led to him being named Grampian Industrialist of the Year in February 2010, when he was 41.
However, by September 2010, Melville was suspended as Cosalt chairman of the Scottish operation as the firm mounted an investigation into “business practices” at the Aberdeen arm.
In 2013, police launched a criminal investigation into allegations the firm was the victim of fraud. Mr Melville and other directors had been sued by the Cosalt over claims equipment had not been delivered. The case settled out of court after the ex-Dundee FC director handed over a share of £2million.
After the civil settlement, Mr Melville said he was not admitting liability for an alleged multimillion-pound fraud and his lawyers said he was not the main subject of the investigation.
The Crown Office ordered the then Grampian Police to conduct a full investigation after the company handed over files for the civil case against the former millionaire.
And last night prosecutors confirmed there was insufficient evidence to pursue the matter.
Mr Melville moved his family to Dubai in 2014.
He later claimed to run OIM Entertainment, OIM Hotels Group, OIM Investment and OIM Fitness Group.
When speaking to the P&J, the father-of-three claimed the companies had purchased a hotel, owned a nightclub and employed more than 500 people. He also claimed involvement in a new office and residential tower in Dubai.
But last year he was declared bankrupt in the UK after failure to pay back hundreds of thousands of pounds to creditors.
