‘Unsophisticated’ gambler defrauded banks out of $120k
An “unsophisticated” school dropout who managed to swindle $120,000 out of two major banks using customers’ identities likely blew the dirty money on gambling, a court has been told.
Moreton
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An “unsophisticated” school dropout who managed to swindle $120,000 out of two major banks likely blew the dirty money on gambling, a court has been told.
Taumiloga Liki, 29, had just been released from jail for stabbing a man in the chest when he began an eight-month campaign to defraud ANZ and Westpac banks.
Between September 2018 and May 2019, Liki used the identities of four legitimate customers of the big banks to gain four loans totalling $121,500.
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The money, which was transferred into Liki’s account, was never recovered.
Liki faced Brisbane District Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to the significant fraud, along with summary charges including drink driving, driving unlicensed, possessing drugs and breaching bail.
Prosecutor Carla Ahern said Liki had used “deliberate steps” to mislead the bank and when questioned by police he claimed he had been paid to commit the fraud by a man named JZ.
Defence barrister Dominic Nguyen said Liki was an “unsophisticated person” who had dropped out of school in Year 7 and was under the influence of drugs during his offending.
Mr Nguyen told the court that despite a history of wounding, drugs and property offences, Liki had never committed any frauds before.
The court was told the father of three was a gambler and the money was “likely thrown away”.
Judge Leanne Clare said there was no evidence that Liki had collected the money at the request of another man and she did not believe his claims.
“I am not persuaded by the self-serving unsworn version given to the police,” Judge Clare said.
“Even if it were true, it would not have improved your position very much.”
Liki was sentenced to four years’ jail, to be served on top of the balance of the sentence he had remaining for the unlawful wounding.
His parole date was fixed at August 15, 2021.
Liki was also disqualified from driving for two years.