Mugabe Rapheal Mubake awaits verdict over alleged $1.2m money laundering scheme

A man has claimed it is equally open that he is another innocent victim in a sophisticated email scam after a high-profile federal politician was swindled of $1.2m.

A man who allegedly swindled a former high-profile federal politician has said it is equally possible that he is another innocent victim in a $1.2m scam, a court heard.

Mugabe Rapheal Mubake, 22, now awaits a judge’s verdict after standing trial in the District Court this week.

Tom Macura, prosecuting, told the court Mr Mubake allegedly dishonestly received over $1.2m from Stephen Parry between October and November 2021.

The court heard Mr Parry, a former Tasmanian Liberal Senator, sent Mr Mubake seven separate transactions over five days, under the mistaken belief that he was transferring funds to his conveyancer for the purpose of a property in Hobart.

Mugabe Rapheal Mubake is on trial for money laundering and theft. Picture: Facebook

Former Senate President Senator Stephen Parry was the alleged victim of the scam. Photo: File

“The prosecution further allege that upon receiving those funds from Mr Parry, who had absolutely no connection to the accused, the accused then disposed of $608,000 from his primary bank account by making 14 separate transfers to other financial accounts,” Mr Macura said.

The court heard Mr Mubake allegedly transferred $300,000 to separate Commonwealth Bank accounts, as well as $170,000 to Coinspot, which is a cryptocurrency trading platform.

He also allegedly transferred sums of money to people, including family members.

Mr Macura said Commonwealth Bank was able to freeze and recover most of the money, but $206,665.06 was not recovered.

The court heard Mr Parry received an email from Graham Woodhouse Conveyancing which he believed contained the firm’s trust account details and transferred the money over.

“It transpires that an unknown person gained access to Mr Woodhouse’s computer system and email account and then sent the fraudulent email on 29 October 2021,” Mr Macura said.

“The prosecution do not allege that the accused was the sole operator who was responsible for designing and executing the fraud.

“It may well be that the accused was part of a joint enterprise and was directed by others to provide his bank account for the purpose of receiving Mr Parry’s funds as part of a wider scam.”

Mr Mubake, of Pooraka, pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of theft and money laundering.

In his closing submissions, Andrew Ey, for Mr Mubake, said at no point had his client taken any property of Mr Parry unless he was involved in the manipulation of the trust details.

“Your Honour would be well aware and it is conceded by prosecution … that there is simply no evidence that Mr Mubake was involved in the IT breach,” he said.

“If they (prosecution) can’t prove that he is the architect or mastermind, in short is it not equally open that he is yet another innocent victim in amongst the various innocent victims that are plainly raised on the prosecution case.”

Mr Ey said there was also no evidence Mr Mubake knew the money was coming in and while there was plainly a level of fraud it could not be proved he acted dishonestly.
Judge Joanne Tracey reserved her verdict.