IT contractor sentenced for cybercrime and fraud offences after swindling more than $60k – 18 March 2024
A Sydney man has been sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment for swindling more than $66,000 from a dozen victims after abusing his role as an IT contractor with a third-party provider to the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM). The man used illegally changed his bank account details to his own.
Evergrande Accused of China’s Largest Financial Fraud – 18 March 2024
Chinese developer Evergrande has been slapped with a $580 million fine in the country’s largest financial fraud case. The latest penalty is another setback for the embattled property firm.
https://www.firstpost.com/vantage/evergrande-accused-of-chinas-largest-financial-fraud-vd7085/
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/china-accuses-evergrande-of-shocking-78b-fraud-20240319-p5fdnz
Death sentence sought for Truong My Lan, the woman allegedly behind Vietnam’s largest-known financial fraud – 20 March 2024
Vietnamese prosecutors have called for the death penalty to be handed to Truong My Lan. She is accused of netting $18.8 billion in a financial scam. Truong My Lan is also accused of bribing officials to hide her embezzlement.
Andrew Donald Steele pleads guilty to persistent sexual abuse of child overseas – 20 March 2024
Andrew Donald Steele pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences committed outside of Australia. A court document states he used an instant messaging app to produce and distribute child abuse material while in Indonesia. The maximum penalty for persistent sexual abuse of a child is 30 years’ imprisonment, and Steele will be sentenced at a later date.
WA Corruption and Crime Commission officer hid intimate relationship with informant, report finds – 21 March 2024
An officer with WA’s Corruption and Crime Commission has been dismissed after having “an extensive and intimate relationship” with an informant. She passed on sensitive information to her lover during the secret relationship, including the identity and location of another CCC informant. The CCC has commissioned an independent review of the failures that allowed “the officer’s deception”.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-21/wa-ccc-officer-dismissed-for-misuse-of-position/103615164
Melbourne man on trial for exit trafficking after allegedly leaving wife stranded overseas without passport – 21 March 2024
Mohamed Ahmed Omer was charged with exit trafficking after he allegedly left his wife stranded overseas without a passport. Its alleged Mr Omer secretly withdrew his sponsorship for his wife’s partner visa before booking the trip and flying home without her. Mr Omer has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Why strict non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases shouldn’t be the only option – 21 March 2024
These days, NDAs are widely used in Australian workplaces, but questions are increasingly being raised about who they benefit the most. Wil Stracke, Assistant Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, says these agreements allow toxic workplace cultures to continue and they are “incredibly harmful for those who sign them”.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-21/ndas-for-the-law-report/103580610
Strata firm Netstrata apologises, managing director steps aside from peak body after being found to be charging excessive fees to home owners – 21 March 2024
The Strata Community Association NSW confirmed it has launched an investigation after the ABC revealed a decade-long history of self-dealing and conflicts of interest at Netstrata. The ABC reported Netstrata has been using its wholly owned insurance arm to charge apartment owners insurance brokerage fees as high as three times the typical rate. The company was also exposed for having taken kickbacks from contractors and suppliers it hires using the strata funds of more than 1,000 buildings, and 35,000 apartments, across NSW.
Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal details of ‘sizeable’ increase in card fraud as Australians lose $2.2 billion in 2023 – 21 March 2024
There has been a “sizeable” increase in the number of Australians affected by card fraud in 2023, compared to the previous year. An Australian Bureau of Statistics report says an estimated gross amount of $2.2 billion was lost to card fraud. The ABS and ACCC say Australians are becoming “more and more aware” of personal fraud and scams.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-20/abs-card-fraud-scam-data/103609822
PwC chairman refuses to share tax leaks scandal investigation with Australian parliament – 21 March 2024
PwC’s global chairman, Bob Moritz, has refused to comply with a request from the Australian parliament to share a copy of an investigation used to contain the tax leaks scandal to Australia. The decision will likely set up another showdown with Australian politicians who have strongly criticised the firm for not sharing the report, and frustrate government departments that have believe it should be shared.
Consumer group calls for action on super scams – 21 March 2024
Advocacy group Super Consumers Australia is urging the Federal Government to introduce a superannuation industry anti-scam code. Heather Gray, the lead ombudsman for superannuation at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), told Super Consumers that superannuation funds have fallen behind the banks in their ability to detect and prevent scams and fraud.
https://nationalseniors.com.au/news/finance/consumer-group-calls-for-action-on-super-scams
Ethics committee for Formula 1 clears FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of wrongdoing in whistleblower complaint – 21 March 2024
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was accused of interfering in two races during last year’s F1 season. An independent ethics committee cleared Ben Sulayem of wrongdoing after a 30-day investigation.
The F1 returns to Australia this weekend, with the main race set to start on Sunday at 3pm (AEDT).
