Mining identity and Maptek founder Dr Bob Johnson charged with defrauding $38.5m in taxes over 15-year period

A famed SA mining magnate will face court on Friday accused of defrauding $38.5 million in taxes following a multi-year international investigation.

One of Adelaide’s wealthiest mining executives allegedly defrauded $38.5m from the Australian Taxation Office over a 15-year period, police say.

Keith Robert “Bob” Johnson has been charged with two counts of defrauding the commonwealth and 13 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

Australian Federal Police allege he failed to disclose overseas trust assets in his tax returns and therefore evaded paying income tax between 1999 and 2013.

The charges follow a complex, long-running joint investigation between the AFP and law enforcement agencies around the world.

If convicted, Dr Johnson – named the mining industry’s “champion of innovation” for 2021 just two months ago – faces a maximum 10-year prison term.

Bob Johnson founded Maptek in 1981, creating software to “bring geological modelling into the 3D realm”. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe.

Dr Johnson, 74, founded Maptek in 1981 by writing software to create 3D modelling of mines and geological sites.

By 2019, Maptek employed 350 people globally with offices in the US, Chile, South Africa and Russia.

He was also associated with exploration company Havilah Resources until 2013, when he tendered his resignation.

That company’s offices – along with those of Maptek and Dr Johnson’s 141-year-old, $4.25m mansion at Leabrook – were subsequently raided by the AFP.

In 2019, Dr Johnson was named as a suspect in a Supreme Court application filed by the AFP under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Court records revealed his assets – tens of millions of dollars worth of property, companies, bank accounts and shares – had been frozen by court order five years earlier.

Among the companies named in that case was Woolsthorpe Investments Limited, which is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and was cited in the “Panama Papers”.

Johnson, centre, with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former Senator Christopher Pyne in 2012. Picture: Kelly Barnes.

The AFP on Thursday confirmed the Supreme Court proceedings were linked to the criminal charges against Dr Johnson, which were filed last Wednesday.

It also confirmed it ran both cases in conjunction with the ATO and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, under the banner of the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.

AFP Southern Command Acting Commander Investigations Raegan Stewart said international co-operation had been required to complete the extremely complicated global investigation.

She said authorities in the US, UK, British Virgin Islands and the Bailiwick of Jersey – a self-governing dependency off the UK coastline – had worked with the task force. “This serves as a clear warning that the AFP will take action in relation to allegations of serious financial crime,” she said.

“We are committed to continuing to work together, alongside our international law enforcement agency partners, in investigations into this kind of offending.

“We will seek to remove the benefits derived from crime, identify those responsible and put them before the court.”

Dr Johnson’s mansion at Leabrook. Picture: Mike Burton.

ATO Deputy Commissioner Will Day said offenders who committed serious financial crimes “deceive, cheat and steal from everyday Australians”. “Each one of us is a victim, because it takes millions of dollars away that could be invested into essential services such as education and health,” Mr Day said.

“That’s why it’s vital we continue to work together to stop serious financial crime and the devastating impacts it has on the community.

“These charges demonstrate the task force’s ability to deliver a whole-of-government response to target criminal behaviour.”

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission acting executive director of intelligence operations Katie Willis said financial crimes were becoming more complex.

She said international co-operation led to both better understanding of such crimes and better tactics to investigate and counter them.

“The ACIC is committed to protecting Australia from criminal threats and with ongoing collaboration with our domestic and international law enforcement partners,” Dr Willis said.

“We will continue to stop financially-motivated criminals exploiting emerging opportunities and perceived gaps in law enforcement information.”

Dr Johnson will face

On Friday afternoon Dr Johonson faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court for the first time.

Commonwealth prosecutors asked he be released on a simple bail agreement, requiring him to reside in Henley Beach and surrender all passports.

They said they did not object him travelling to NSW to see his mother in a nursing home, provided he give prior notice of his arrival and departure dates to the AFP.

Dr Johnson will face court again in September.