An Indian national living in Melbourne on a student visa has been jailed for more than two years over a $100,000-plus tax fraud.
Computer networking student Tharun Likki, 31, of Hoppers Crossing, used illegally obtained student visa details of other Indian nationals living temporarily in Australia to generate tax file numbers, then lodged fake tax returns in their names to derive financial benefit.
Likki was jailed in the Victorian County Court for two years and three months for attempting to obtain $22,180 by deception in July 2013 and dealing with proceeds of crime in respect of $117,540 between October 2014 and October 2015.
The scheme also involved his brother, Varun Likki, and friend, Ranjith Goli, both Indian nationals who arrived in Australia on student visas until their departure in 2010.
Tharun Likki then arrived in Australia from India in April, 2012.
Under the scheme, the fraudulently obtained tax refunds were to be paid into bank accounts held in Varun Likki or Goli's name.
After the payments were received, money was transferred into Tharun Likki's accounts.
The fraud was uncovered after a public tip-off, and investigated by the ATO, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
ATO assistant commissioner Peter Vujanic said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the crimes.
"Contrary to popular belief, tax crime is not victimless: when you claim a refund you're not entitled to, you are stealing from the whole community and disadvantaging Australians who do the right thing," he said in a statement.
Australian Associated Press
