Man arrested in Perth over A$100 million "laundering" scheme

An Australian citizen from Vanuatu has been arrested over a A$100 million offshore money laundering scheme, and police also expect to arrest many of his customers.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) say the 58-year-old man was arrested in Perth this morning, just a few days before he planned to fly back to Vanuatu.

Federal agents allege the scheme involved evasion of $A13 million in taxes on $A100 million of his customers' business profits.

The man allegedly has received $A1.4 million in commissions, through foreign bank accounts, since 2000.

He allegedly advertised the scheme to clients ranging from high-profile business people to owners of small enterprises.

The AFP says it will contact 400 people by letter, asking them to come forward, because they had been identified as participants in the scheme.

"I would say this is a fair warning for them to come forward," AFP commander of economic operations Warren Gray told reporters in Sydney today.

"We will be pursuing these people to ensure they pay their fair share of tax."

LNK

Quote :: "We will be pursuing these people to ensure they pay their fair share of tax."

Theft you mean...

Fucking government gangster!

Big names linked to tax fraud, police say

PROMINENT Sydney business identities are caught up in an offshore tax avoidance scheme involving more than $100 million and 400 people, Australian Federal Police alleged yesterday.

The boast of big scalps to come was made by the Fraud Squad's Commander Warren Gray, after the arrest in Perth yesterday of a Sydney accountant, Robert Agius, who now lives in Vanuatu.

Police said the scam involved laundering of money from Australia through Vanuatu and New Zealand.

Agius, 58, formerly of North Sydney, is the third person to be arrested in a joint investigation by federal police and the Tax Office into offshore money laundering syndicates.

Agius, who is also a lawyer, flew to Perth on Sunday to visit an associate, and was planning to leave by Friday. He was arrested by the Project Wickenby taskforce on charges of laundering more than $100 million.

Commander Gray said it would be alleged Agius received $1.4 million in commissions from at least 20 people who had invested $13 million in a "round-robin scheme".

Most were from Sydney, and a further 400 participants in the scheme had since been identified.

"The majority of offences took place in Sydney and involved moving money out of Australia disguised as consultancy fees to individual activities in Vanuatu," Commander Gray said. "The money was then moved to accounts set up in New Zealand and then loaned back to the participant, who claimed it as a tax deduction less the commission fee.

"We are talking about professional people, quite well-known people in the higher echelons of business."

Commander Gray said the 400 people identified would soon begin receiving letters from the Tax Office and the taskforce regarding their dealings.

He said the taskforce had seized property and assets worth $57 million so far that are allegedly in the charge of Agius. They include a number of properties, some of which are on the North Shore, including Agius's home.

Commander Gray said Agius's arrest was unrelated to the taskforce's recent arrests of an accountant and a businessman.

A Japanese businessman, Tatsuo Jo, was released on bail in the Southport Magistrates Court on April 17 after appearing on nine charges of avoiding $1.1 million in tax by deception and defrauding the Commonwealth. His arrest followed similar charges against Michael Milne, of Sydney, on February 29.

The only person to be jailed so far as a result of Project Wickenby is the music entrepreneur Glenn Wheatley, who pleaded guilty in July to three charges of defrauding the Commonwealth of $318,092 in tax. He was sentenced to 15 months in jail, since altered by the parole board to six months' home detention.

A Perth magistrate late yesterday ordered the extradition of Agius to NSW.

During his brief appearance, Agius denied being in possession of five passports and said he did not conduct business in Australia.

Agius is expected to face Central Local Court today.

Commander Gray said Agius worked for the Vanuatu accountancy firm PKF, which is not connected with the Australian firm of the same name. PKF Vanuatu's website said Agius has been a senior partner of PKF Vanuatu since 1979.

Check out the financial controller of the "archdiocese" of Malta. :D

Quote :: guiding pastoral action

By gosh it's a veritable ecclesiastic, tax dodging, hedge fund...

ROFL

Man arrested in Perth over A$100 million "laundering" scheme

Man arrested in Perth over A$100 million "laundering" scheme

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