Sydney Man Charged Over $20 Million Tax Fraud

Sydney Man Charged Over $20 Million Tax Fraud
The Australian Federal Police badge is seen in Canberra, Australia on Jun. 6, 2019 Photo by Getty Images
AAP
By AAP
Updated:

The 54-year-old Earlwood man will appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, charged with recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime to the value of $100,000 or more.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment.

The Australian Federal Police issued the man with a court attendance notice on Sept. 9 as part of their investigations into a vast criminal syndicate that used labour hire and payroll companies associated with the building and construction industry to defraud the Commonwealth.

The investigation into the syndicate began in December 2018, as a result of AFP investigators following up intelligence identified through a number of other organised crime investigations.

The AFP partnered with the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce to target the conspiracy to siphon off money that should have been paid to the Australian Taxation Office.

It will be alleged in court the man received and possessed a total of $456,150 in proceeds from the illegal scheme.

The AFP says he allegedly used two personal bank accounts to receive money from five other corporate entities set up to facilitate the fraud scheme.

It will also be alleged the man was the sole director and secretary of a corporate entity that received payments from another entity established by the syndicate to launder money illegally diverted as part of the scheme.

AFP Detective Superintendent Matthew Ciantar said the growing list of people charged under Operation Bordelon highlighted the tenacity of AFP investigators to uncover the entire scope of criminal offending committed by this syndicate.

“These new charges highlight our commitment to ensuring serious criminal activity is brought to account and serves as another warning to others in the professional services industry seeking to facilitate the activities of organised crime.”

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