Construction boss George Alex has been found guilty of conspiring to deal with more than a million dollars in proceeds of crime.
Alex was “too unwell” to attend the NSW Supreme Court at Darlinghurst to witness the verdict, as a jury advanced to deliberate over whether he headed a $10 million tax fraud scheme.
The six-month trial involved five other men including George Alex’s 26-year-old son Arthur Alex, who was found not guilty of the single charge against him.
The group are accused of running a labour hire business with legitimate construction industry clients and used a multi-layered, “revolving door” of companies to pocket pay-as-you-go (PAYG) withholding tax from the wages and salaries of labour hire and office staff.
It was initially alleged $13.1 million was not remitted to the ATO. However, this amount was corrected to around $10 million.
Prosecutors allege secret recordings captured Alex leading the tax fraud scheme, and argue conspirators retained a “substantial amount” of the proceeds for personal benefit, including the purchase of a $1.9 million apartment in Surfers Paradise and multiple Range Rovers.
The jury will continue deliberations next week to determine the verdict of an alleged tax fraud conspiracy charge.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
