I’ll tell you one thing that REALLY ticked me off about my complex. The association (ie owners) OWN a unit (worth roughly 700k) that they let the manager live in for free. He doesn’t pay dues or rent. He gets paid to manage the complex, as well as a separate payment to mow the lawn, clean the pool, perform certain maintenance jobs. He’s also a licensed RE broker so he makes commissions on sales and rentals at this complex as well as others around the island. He also gets paid to renovate people’s units that engage him.
When I asked the president of the association via email about this arrangement he responded by copying the manager to tell me this was a good arrangement!
The arrangement you described could well involve kickbacks between the manager and key members of the association board.
Here is a good discussion of the issue here:
https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/suspicion-of-kickback-to-board-members-2084860.html
I think the odds of a kickback arrangement are above 50-50 based on the facts you presented.
Even after you left you could still file suit against the association board—go through the discovery process—and see what is there.
You might find an attorney that would be willing to do this on a contingency basis (they only get paid a percentage of what you win).
It may not interest you—but if the anger is still burning you can go for it.
One more hint: do not contact other members of the condo—in fact don’t talk to anyone about it except for your lawyer.
You do not want them to see you coming...that gives them time to lawyer up, shred documents etc. If they are slimy enough to steal money they are certainly slimy enough to cover up evidence that they stole money.