Michael Ibrahim ‘arranged for wife Caitlin Hall to be paid $1.5m’ while in jail
Michael Ibrahim arranged for his wife, Caitlin Hall, to be paid $1.5 million from an alleged tax fraud scheme, police will claim.
NSW
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Jailed drug smuggler Michael Ibrahim arranged for his wife to receive a $1.5 million nest egg by investing millions in a tax fraud scheme run by construction identity George Alex, police will allege.
According to documents tendered in the Queensland Supreme Court, Ibrahim and Alex put nearly $3 million into a business that was allegedly part of a complex network of companies that stole more than $17 million in unpaid tax.
It is alleged Ibrahim’s wife, Caitlin Hall, was the end recipient of almost $1.5 million of the money that was laundered through overseas shelf companies before being deposited into the accounts of three companies of which she was the director.
The make-up artist also received a 2019 Range Rover purchased for $293,999 in September 2019 by one of the companies allegedly used to run the money laundering scheme.
Police will allege Ibrahim arranged for his wife to receive the money while he was in jail after being sentenced to a maximum 30 years for attempting to smuggle almost two tonnes of drugs and millions of cigarettes into Australia.
Hall was in regular contact with Ibrahim from the time he was arrested and put behind bars in August 2017, the documents said.
Despite his situation, Ibrahim allegedly attempted to ensure Hall was supported financially and could retire by the age of 26, while she ensured there was a steady flow of money deposited in his prison account.
According to the documents in October, police intercepted a phonemail where Ibrahim told Hall she should start running her own company.
“George is going to get you working with them a few days a week, three, four days a couple of hours each day,” Ibrahim said. “Get you out of the house…give you something to do…”
It is alleged Hall registered one of the companies in January 2018. But despite not being “actively employed” she was receiving large payments from the companies involved in the allegedly syndicate.
On January 6, 2019, police recorded another call where Ibrahim told Hall “she was unemployed but still managed to be retired by the age of 26”, the documents said.
However, there was tension between the two.
On January 26, 2019, Ibrahim allegedly told Hall to “…find a job, find something you want to open for yourself…”.
He also allegedly told her “You can do whatever you f..king want. But you choose to sit on your arse and do nothing.”
Ibrahim called her the next day and suggested she learn a musical instrument to fill in her days because she did not have a job, the documents said.
Hall responded: “I wanna do all these things then I feel guilty…cause I’m like why are you doing all these f..king things, go and get a job.”
Ibrahim said: “Babe please. Your job is me, that’s it. That’s your full-time job.”
Later he told Hall on another call: “Just get off your arse and start doing something every day. One day go to an animal shelter. One day go to a f…king soup kitchen. Help the homeless, just don’t bring any home with you.”
According to the documents in the two financial years from 2018 to 2020, three companies of which Hall was a director received $1.491 million from three separate companies allegedly involved with the money laundering scheme.
When the ATO issued a garnishee notice to one of Hall’s companies in July 2019, it was allegedly feared the tax avoidance plot would come unstuck.
On July 11, Ibrahim phoned Alex and allegedly said: “We’re new to this, we’re not used to paying tax,” the documents said.
On Tuesday, Hall, Alex and an all-star cast from the finance and contracting industries were arrested when a joint task force, which included the Australian Federal Police, swooped.
Hall was charged with recklessly dealing with more than $1 million that was the proceeds of crime. She was granted bail and will next face the Downing Centre Local Court on September 16.
Alex was charged with conspiring to cause a loss, dealing with more than $1 million that was the proceeds of crime and will next face the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.
Ibrahim was not charged.
Originally published as Michael Ibrahim ‘arranged for wife Caitlin Hall to be paid $1.5m’ while in jail