‘Nowhere to hide’: Tax office issued brutal warning as ex-public servant charged over alleged $1.3m GST fraud scheme
A former public official has been charged with allegedly attempting to defraud more than $1.3 million with false GST claims; This led the tax office to warn that such fraudulent claims have “nowhere to hide” in Australia.
The 33-year-old man was arrested at a home in Broken Hill on June 30, years after he allegedly tried to make dodgy GST refunds between 2020 and 2022.
Footage released by NSW Police shows the man from NSW being taken out of the building and into a police car, along with several police officers at the scene.
He is accused of obtaining financial advantage through fraud.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Deputy Commissioner Nicholas Shizas said the arrest was a successful outcome of a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the ATO.
“Integrity is the foundation of public service; if you are not up to that standard, public service is not the right place for you,” Deputy Commissioner Shizas said.
“Tax fraud has nowhere to hide. The ATO has advanced systems to detect fraud, as demonstrated by the capabilities of OPIT (Operation Protego Integrity Taskforce) and SFCT (Serious Financial Crime Taskforce).
“This joint effort reflects SFCT’s ongoing work to prevent financial crime and respond to criminal behavior, hold criminals accountable, and protect the integrity of the system.”
Police confirmed the man came to the attention of the ATO’s Operation Protego after allegedly submitting false business activity statements in the name of a fake business in Australia.
When the 33-year-old was arrested in June, the home was searched and police seized electronic devices.
He appeared briefly at Broken Hill Local Court on Tuesday after being released on strict bail.
AFP Acting Commander Tim Underhill said the integrity of the Commonwealth was protected through successful multi-agency efforts.
“Such investigations are resource-intensive and time-consuming, but the AFP and its partners are committed to preventing fraud and protecting taxpayers’ money,” Commander Underhill said.
“This alleged crime strikes at the heart of Australia’s tax system and diverts critical funds away from essential social services.
“There is no place in Australia where individuals can try to lie low in the hope of avoiding contact with law enforcement; we will find you and bring you before the courts.”
