Former ATO accountant Gaya Ranasinghe sentenced in court after stealing $16k from taxpayers

A trusted ATO accountant who spent 10 years chasing mass fraud has been exposed after secretly using her insider smarts to steal money.

An Adelaide ATO accountant conducting frequent audits into large-scale GST fraud has been sentenced after using her knowledge of the “system’s vulnerabilities” to steal more than $16,000 from taxpayers.

Menuwarage Gayathri Kaushalya Ranasinghe, 43, commonly known as ‘Gaya’, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday for sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

An ATO accountant for 13 years, Ranasinghe had established an ABN for her “side job” – a personal training business – which she used to submit false claims, alleging she was entitled to GST refunds of up to $16,056 for three different “business activities”.

“Loss by fraud, through the tax system, impacts the whole community,” Magistrate Louise Kleinig said. “You know this very well yourself, as you worked for the ATO for 13 years – including in the BAS integrity and insights branch, conducting audits on businesses and individuals.

Ranasinghe was sentenced on Thursday. Picture: Google

“Most concerningly, you worked in Operation Protego – an investigation into widespread mass fraud, where individuals would register for an ABN and GST without carrying on an enterprise at all in order to claim GST refunds they were not entitled to.

“You knew the system’s vulnerabilities, and you must have understood – through your work and professional training – the need for maintaining the integrity of the BAS and GST system.

“Although you did not use any special knowledge or access to commit your offences, it nevertheless makes them more serious that you were using your accounting qualification to work for the ATO in the area of BAS fraud.”

The court heard Ranasinghe had used the money to purchase flights back to Sri Lanka to see her family – and had since paid back the stolen funds in full.

It was further submitted Ranasinghe, who could not contain her tears throughout the sentencing, was “too ashamed” to tell her mother about her offending.

On Thursday, Ms Kleinig accepted Ranasinghe was remorseful, and acknowledged the prospect of a two-year professional suspension from her employment as an accountant would “deter” her from future offending.

“Your conduct amounts to a betrayal of both your employer and your professional ethics,” Ms Kleinig said.

“While your offending was motivated by a desire for money that you had not earned – there is no indication that you spent the money on a lavish lifestyle.”

Ranasinghe was sentenced to four months jail – suspended upon entering into an 18-month good behaviour bond.

Originally published as Former ATO accountant Gaya Ranasinghe sentenced in court after stealing $16k from taxpayers