Macquarie Group has been dealing with a building situation over the last two days, fending off accusations of share price manipulation as Melbourne law firm Macpherson Kelley uses media outlets to further its leverage against Macquarie Private Wealth in a complex class action.The firm has been accusing Macquarie of  alleged "pump and dump" tactics that have left one junior miner's founder and CEO complaining that no-one will now back his legitimate attempt to set up gold and iron ore mines in Brazil.Media reports last year told how the share price of Cleveland Mining was boosted to a high of 79 cents before crashing to seven cents. Cleveland alleges Macquarie Wealth advisers pressured clients to hold the stock."The lawyers are yet to commence any litigation. We have consistently stated that the allegations, which appear to be an attempt to solicit clients, lack any credible evidence," Macquarie said in a statement on Wednesday.Macquarie ended by stating: "We look forward to appearing [on Thursday for the] Senate Committee Inquiry into Consumer Protection in the Banking, Insurance and Financial Sector to assist the Committee with its questions."So it was that Cleveland's managing director David Mendelawitz told the senators: "I've had three brokers this week say 'Yeah, that's what they do' [in relation to pump and dump tactics].""We've been pumped and dumped … they've manipulated the share price," Cleveland's finance director Simpson told the Senate's Economic References Committee, which is examining consumer protection in the banking, insurance and financial sectors.The ABC reports that Mendelawitz "blew the whistle" about the conduct of some Macquarie Private Wealth (Victoria) advisers to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.He told the hearing that advisers refused to let people sell their stock, pressuring them to stay until the stock hit a mooted price of A$1.20. It last traded at seven cents.At Thursday's inquiry Macquarie deputy managing director Greg Ward testified that the group had uncovered one instance of an inappropriate payment to an adviser and another instance of an inappropriate investment advice in the division."We identified concerns about two advisers in relation to Cleveland Mining, specifically they had not disclosed to us the extent of their association with the company," Ward said.Mr Ward denied there was a "poor culture" at Macquarie private wealth, but accepted that an instance where an adviser pocketed $12,500 for an introduction was "poor judgement", the AFR has reported.The deadline for to the Senate Economics References Committee to be complete its inquiry and report back was to be the last sitting day of the autumn sittings of 2018.On 14 February 2018, the Senate granted a further four-month extension of time to report, with 22 February 2018 listed as the final day for public hearings by this Committee.