Sydney Construction Boss Sentenced to Nine Years for Tax Fraud
Sydney construction boss George Alex has been sentenced to nine years and three months in prison for conspiring to defraud the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) of more than $10 million.
Alex and four co-offenders - Lindsay Kirschberg, Pasquale Loccisano, Gordon McAndrew, and Mark Bryers - were found guilty of the conspiracy after a six-month trial. The jury heard evidence from 110 hours of secret recordings, revealing a plan to avoid paying PAYG tax for over two years.
Justice Desmond Fagan, who presided over the case, said Alex was the driving force behind the scheme and his culpability was greater than the others. He noted that the fraud against the ATO was a crime against all taxpayers who contribute to government services.
Alex will serve a minimum of six years and two months in prison, with his non-parole period expiring in October 2030. The other co-offenders received sentences ranging from eight to eight-and-a-half years, with non-parole periods of five-and-a-half to six years.
Justice Fagan also commented on the potential for early intervention by authorities. He noted that the fraud could have been stopped in January 2019 when business activity statements revealed a company had defaulted on remittance of $3.6 million in PAYG tax. He suggested that prompt action by the ATO could have prevented further losses and reduced the cost of the investigation and trial.
The case highlights the seriousness of tax fraud and the potential consequences for those involved. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of early intervention strategies in preventing such crimes.