Former Australian Taxation Office employee Paraskevi Vula Danassis has been convicted over her role in a $2 billion GST fraud scheme that exploited fake business claims for tax refunds.
Danassis, who worked as an executive assistant at the ATO, obtained $94,000 in fraudulent GST refunds by registering a fictitious cleaning business and submitting fake Business Activity Statements.
She was convicted of one count of “general dishonesty – obtaining a gain” and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but was released immediately on a two-year good behaviour bond after repaying the full amount with help from her mother.
The Queensland District Court heard Danassis spent $11,000 of the money on dental implants and used some funds to repay high-interest loans allegedly forced on her by an abusive former partner.
However, the federal prosecutor argued the funds were still used for “personal gain,” including non-essentials and cryptocurrency.
Her case is part of a wider ATO crackdown on the scam, which began circulating on social media in late 2021.
The scheme involved falsely registering for GST and claiming refunds for purchases that never occurred. Over 57,000 individuals are believed to have participated, with only $160 million recovered so far.
ATO deputy commissioner Nick Shizas condemned the actions, saying, “Those who act contrary to our values do a disservice to us all and have no place in the ATO.”
Three other ATO workers have also been convicted, with fraud amounts ranging from $16,000 to $94,000. The scam has been described as the largest of its kind in Australia’s history.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
