David Hicks in proceeds of crime legal battle

9 July 2012 By

David Hicks in proceeds of crime legal battle

A former US Guantanamo Bay guard will travel to Sydney this month to give evidence in David Hicks’s legal battle with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The DPP has brought a case against Mr Hicks, arguing the profits of his memoir, Guantanamo: My Journey, are the proceeds of crime.

Brandon Neely, a guard at Guantanamo at the time of Mr Hicks’s detention, tweeted that he would give evidence in the case when it comes before the NSW Supreme Court on July 30.

Mr Neely has spoken publicly of the human rights abuses at Guantanamo, and is expected to testify under oath that any evidence obtained during the time Mr Hicks was in Guantanamo was unreliable due to his mistreatment there.

Just after midnight yesterday, Mr Neely tweeted about his involvement with the case.

“Going to OZ this month to testify under oath about #GTMO & David Hicks treatment” the tweet said.

A later tweet implied he would testify in favour of Mr Hicks.

“July 30th #Sydney Aus at the Supreme Court of NSW come out & support David Hicks as the Govt attempts 2 take his profits from his book #GTMO” Mr Neely tweeted.

If the court finds the evidence against Mr Hicks was obtained illegally or improperly, the judge may choose to exclude it from the case.

The DPP decided to pursue the case after receiving an initial brief from the Australian Federal Police. A spokesperson for the acting federal Attorney-General, Jason Clare, said that there was no governmental involvement in the case.

“All prosecutions, including this one, are decisions for the independent Director of Public Prosecutions” the spokesperson said.

(Source: “Hicks guard evidence”, James O’Doherty , SMH, July 8, 2012)

Further Information on Proceeds of Crime

If you would like further information about using our forensic accounting services for a proceeds of crime or other expert witness matter, then please contact us for an obligation free discussion. We provide services to corporations, law firms and individuals in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and across Australia.

Filed Under: Proceeds of Crime Tagged With:

Man jailed over $6.2 million credit card scam

5 June 2012 By

A foreign credit-card scammer flew into Australia to help steal more than $6.2 million and was found with $60,000 cash in his backpack when he was arrested, a court heard today.

Lai Wong, who was found to have a false Hong Kong passport, was sentenced to five years and nine months jail, with a minimum of four years, after pleading guilty to a range of proceeds of crime and false document offences.

When police searched his rented Mitcham residence, access was given to a locked bedroom by a key hidden in a light fixture. Investigators uncovered an office for manufacturing fake credit and debit cards, complete with bank logos, 973 illegal credit cards and thousands more blank cards.

County Court Judge Joe Gullaci said Wong, 39, was an intelligent Malaysian who spoke several languages and came to Australia for the specific purpose of engaging in the credit card and money transfer frauds.

“You entered this country with the sole purpose of significant criminal conduct” Judge Gullaci said, adding Wong was a crucial and pivotal player in a sophisticated crime that targeted Australian banks and financing.

Despite Wong claiming he had been recruited into a crime syndicate as a result of gambling losses in Macau, Judge Gullaci said he had put no evidence before the court to support the claim and had refused to tell investigators specifically where money had been obtained and who he had sent $6.29 million to, suspected of being proceeds of crime.

The money was accrued in just six months after Wong arrived in Australia on a business visa last year and made 34 cash deposits and international transfers to offshore accounts, the court heard.

Australian Federal Police agents arrested Wong after he met two other individuals, and disembarked from a train at Camberwell station, where he was found to have $60,000 cash in his backpack.

Judge Gullaci said although the true value of Wong’s share in the enterprise was unknown, he had collected $30,000 in commissions.

“International crime syndicates could not operate unless people like you were prepared to perform crucial roles” Judge Gullaci said.

“If you come into this country to commit serious crimes you had better be prepared to serve significant periods in prison.’‘

(Source: Mark Dunn, Herald Sun, 29 May 2012)

Further Information

If you would like further information about using our forensic accounting services for a fraud, litigation, or other forensic accounting matter, then please contact us for an obligation free discussion. We provide services to corporations, law firms and individuals in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and across Australia.

 

Filed Under: Proceeds of Crime Tagged With: ,

Court orders proceeds of crime confiscations of more than $650,000

1 June 2012 By

Proceeds of Crime confiscation tops $650,000

A court has ordered more than $650,000 that is suspected of being linked to an international drug cartel to be turned over to authorities.

Australian Federal Police allegedly seized the cash in March when they raided the homes of two Gold Coast men suspected of heading the operation.

Ryan Thomas Litchfield, 26, allegedly had $37,500 stashed in a safe and a Louis Vuitton box at his Tweed Heads home.

Police allegedly found more than $600,000 at the Coolangatta home of co-accused Daniel Nunes Negrine, 30.

These and other alleged cash finds at both men’s homes totalled more than $650,000.

Queensland District Court documents allege some of that cash was found in the lining of a couch, while most was in the boots of two cars parked outside an apartment.

A District judge ordered this week that the cash, confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act, be surrendered to the Official Trustee of Bankruptcy.

Both men have been charged with conspiring to import cocaine between August last year and March of this year.

It’s alleged they used mules to bring drugs from Brazil into the Gold Coast.

Police allege Litchfield and Negrine can be linked to a man caught at Sydney International Airport and another at the Gold Coast International Airport.

These two mules allegedly had 12 kilograms of cocaine hidden in suitcase linings and windsurfer handles.

A third man, who was allegedly carrying 2kg of cocaine and had links to Litchfield and Negrine, was arrested in New Zealand in February as he was about to board a flight to Australia.

Litchfield and Negrine will both face court at a later date.

Source: AAP, The Gold Coast , May 31, 2012

About Rushmore Forensic

Andrew Firth is a forensic accountant who has conducted numerous investigations and other forensic accounting engagements in both Australia and overseas.

He specialises in financial investigations and provides expert witness reports for court purposes.  He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has appeared as an Expert Witness in numerous jurisdictions.

Filed Under: Proceeds of Crime, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,