On an unseasonably cold November morning, Micky Ahuja, the enigmatic owner and chief executive of MA Services Group, convened an urgent meeting to address a growing controversy surrounding one of the country’s most contentious security contracts. At stake was a high-risk, secretive deal worth potentially tens of millions of Australian taxpayer dollars, which had attracted intense scrutiny in Canberra.
The contract involved sending a private Australian security force to the Pacific island of Nauru, a venture that had yet to be publicly associated with MA Services. However, an investigation by this publication and 60 Minutes revealed that a labor-hire company linked to the international boss of the Finks outlaw bikie gang was recruiting guards for the operation, causing an uproar in Canberra.
Political and Financial Implications
The controversy centers around the Albanese government’s financial commitment to Nauru, with Labor reportedly allocating up to $2.5 billion over 30 years to address a political dilemma involving approximately 300 former immigration detainees deemed too dangerous to remain in Australia. The arrangement with Nauru was intended to resolve this issue, but it inadvertently raised questions about the security of the island’s population.
Following revelations of the bikie gang’s involvement, the Albanese government held a crisis meeting with Nauru’s president, David Adeang, demanding the proper use of Australian funds. Adeang agreed to remove the organized crime-linked entity from the operation, while Ahuja scrambled to salvage his company’s reputation.
MA Services’ Response and Strategic Moves
On November 17, Ahuja met with MA’s national manager, Paul Maroun, to discuss strategies for reviving the Nauru deal. Sources indicate that Ahuja and Maroun planned to recruit a new security manager with a clean background to replace former executive Tim Jones, whose connections to the bikie gang had come under scrutiny.
Ahuja was determined to protect MA’s reputation amidst the growing controversy, which also highlighted Adeang’s history of suspected corruption. The company arranged for the Nauru operation to be insured, with guards receiving $120,000 annually and managing their own superannuation, a requirement not mandated on Nauru.
Behind the Scenes: MA’s Secretive Operations
MA Services had been quietly preparing for the Nauru venture for over a year, recruiting project managers, hosting meetings with Nauruan officials, and establishing a corporate structure under the guise of “Nauru Community Safety.” Despite these efforts, the operation remained largely unknown to MA’s government and corporate clients, as well as the general public.
When questioned by reporters on November 6 and 7, Ahuja declined to comment on his involvement. However, the publication of the firm’s offshore operations and its ties to a Finks-linked subcontractor forced him to address the issue publicly.
Legal and Reputational Challenges
In response to the mounting allegations, Ahuja’s public relations team attempted to downplay the company’s involvement, presenting a Nauru corporate document that purportedly exonerated him. However, the document, dated November 8, 2025, failed to substantiate these claims, listing Tim Jones as the sole shareholder of Nauru Community Safety.
Amidst the controversy, MA Services replaced its PR agent and issued statements denying knowledge of the bikie involvement or any wrongdoing in the firm’s dealings. However, liquidators’ reports suggest MA may have engaged subcontractors involved in tax evasion and worker exploitation, raising further questions about the company’s practices.
According to liquidators’ reports, the Tax Office is probing a scheme featuring “numerous liquidated labour-hire companies” and “tax evasive behaviours” involving companies that are used by MA Services or its subcontractors supplying guards to businesses such as Coles and Amazon.
Industry and Government Reactions
The fallout from the Nauru dealings has prompted significant reactions from various stakeholders. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned Nauru’s president about the security operation, while Greens and teal MPs have criticized the government in federal parliament. Corporate giants like Coles and Bunnings have launched their own investigations, and the private security association has held crisis discussions about the industry’s integrity.
Victoria Police is also examining claims made by MA in tender documents, alleging the involvement of a serving police officer in its training committee, despite regulations prohibiting such affiliations.
As the controversy unfolds, Ahuja continues to maintain that MA Services is a victim of external wrongdoing, blaming former executive Tim Jones for the bikie gang’s involvement. He insists that all subcontractors are thoroughly vetted and adhere to impeccable corporate governance standards.
In addition to hiring a new public relations agent, Ahuja has engaged corporate law firm Gadens to issue legal threats demanding the removal of stories about him and his company. This strategy has been employed successfully in the past, with previous stories about MA Services being removed as part of a settlement.
Despite these efforts, the controversy surrounding MA Services and its operations in Nauru and Australia shows no signs of abating, with ongoing investigations and public scrutiny continuing to cast a shadow over the company’s reputation.
