Federal Labor's Chris Bowen said: "Of course it's a disturbing case but the courts should be allowed to do their job; the course of justice and law should be allowed to proceed without political commentary."
The son of deputy tax commissioner Michael Cranston has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a $165-million fraud syndicate.The Australian Federal Police said Adam Cranston was among nine people arrested for alleged involvement in the large-scale fraud. Adam Cranston was arrested at his flat in the affluent beach suburb of Bondi during raids yesterday and has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth.
The 30-year-old is believed to be one of the main conspirators in the group and is understood to run a financial services company. (Alleged Involvement)
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Daniel Hausman and Peter Larcombe with Dubai connection Australia's largest tax fraud syndicate had its origins in modest Menai by Rachel Olding ATO chief caught on phone taps to son and antiseministic comment
Putting trust in the trusts cop
The AFP has provided The Register with the diagram below to illustrate how the scheme worked
(Payroll-for-contractors company named at centre of AU$165m tax scam scheme)
How Plutus Payroll was allegedly used in a scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Australia. Source: AFP. Click here to embiggen.
ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston's son charged over allegd $165 million
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The Sydney Morning Herald: Federal police raid office of Sydney property developers Michael Teplitsky and Boris Markovsky
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Australian Taxation Office assistant commissioners Tony Poulakis and Scott Burrows were yesterday stood down without pay as the Australian Federal Police announced nine people had been charged over the lucrative scheme. ATO Tzar
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The police documents reveal that one syndicate member, Daniel Rostankovski, turned on other conspirators and allegedly tried to extort money from them.
At the February 1 meeting, Mr Rostankovski and Mr Barrett allegedly threatened to expose the conspiracy in the media if money wasn't handed over.
"Police allege ... Rostankovski and Barrett attempted to blackmail the co-conspirators in relation to their involvement in the conspiracy," the police documents state.
Mr Rostankovski allegedly demanded $5 million or Mr Barrett would expose the group in the media.
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Money trail that taxes belief
At the February 1 meeting, Mr Rostankovski and Mr Barrett allegedly threatened to expose the conspiracy in the media if money wasn't handed over.
"Police allege ... Rostankovski and Barrett attempted to blackmail the co-conspirators in relation to their involvement in the conspiracy," the police documents state.
Mr Rostankovski allegedly demanded $5 million or Mr Barrett would expose the group in the media.
Journalist Steve Barrett 'blackmailed tax fraud syndicate
Journalist Steve Barrett 'blackmailed tax fraud syndicate
Bill Shorten says alleged tax fraud builds case for federal corruption watchdog
Payroll-for-contractors company named at centre of AU$165m tax scam scheme
Payroll-for-contractors company named at centre of AU$165m tax scam scheme
Tax fraud scandal: fast cars, guns and glamorous women
Tax fraud allegation could undermine trillion-dollar investigations, senator says
Tom Burton: ATO haunted by its secretive historySteve Barrett spoke to A Current Affair about ATO tax fraud scoop amid arrests