Seven accused “money mules” have appeared in court after allegedly working for foreign scammers in a $14m investment con.
Police alleged the group were paid commissions by an international syndicate to open fraudulent businesses and bank accounts used to funnel money overseas.
It’s alleged foreign scammers used the local accounts to dupe wannabe investors into thinking they were depositing money into fixed-term deposits or buying shares through a brokerage.
Six men, aged 44 to 51, and a 45-year-old woman were charged with offences including knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime in the past nine months.
They are Nicole Kristy Clegg, Brent Aaron Watts, Scott Anderson, Christopher George Johnston, Damian Tuckwell Meredith, Lonnie Brian Stephenson and Simon Geoffrey Flockhart.
The group appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday as prosecutors revealed a “fairly crucial” report from a forensic accountant could take a year to prepare.
The federal government has joined forces with banks, telcos and an Australian body investigating financial crimes in a bid to crack down on online scammers.
The court was told Detective Senior Constable James Delianis was told on Wednesday the report would likely take eight to 12 months “at a minimum” due to substantial material and high demand.
Barrister David Rofe, for Mr Meredith, described the possible delay as “wholly unacceptable and, with respect, ridiculous”.
“Not enough effort has been made by the informant,” he said.
“This is an (alleged) international multimillion-dollar money laundering operation … much more needs to be done.”
Magistrate Belinda Wallington urged Constable Delianis to see if the report could be produced sooner, given the “fairly crucial” evidence for the prosecution case.
The court was also told police were waiting on six statements, three of which were from alleged victims “overseas or interstate”.
Police will allege the group served as “Victorian-based mules” by managing accounts and moving more than $14m offshore between August 2022 and February 2024.
“Investigators have so far identified 30 (alleged) victims from across Australia who lost millions to the alleged scam,” Victoria Police said on September 16.
Police will allege the group was hired in order to make the scam look more legitimate.
Alleged victims of the scam include a 56-year-old ACT woman who transferred $1.6m to a fraudulent account in February and a Melbourne woman, 86, who lost $400,000 in July last year.
The matter was adjourned until December.
