Ex liquidator Peter Andrew Amos jailed for swindling millions from companies in administration

A former Sydney liquidator who took millions of dollars from collapsed companies over several years was brought undone by paperwork. Now, he’s been jailed.

A former liquidator has been sentenced in the Downing Centre after he swindled more than $2.5m out of companies after they were placed into administration. Picture: Nikki Short

A former liquidator has been jailed after he swindled more than $2.5m out of companies he was in charge of after they were placed into administration.

Peter Andrew Amos, 49, faced the Downing Centre District Court on Friday to be sentenced after he previously pleaded guilty to six charges of using his position as a liquidator to gain an advantage.

Another two charges of the same description were also taken into account upon sentencing.

The court was told Amos, while working as a liquidator, took $2,518,483.31 without authority from accounts linked to five companies in external administration between October 6, 2016 and 31 December, 2022.

Judge Robyn Tupman said Amos tried to hide the swindled funds as “fees” or “term deposits” taken as remuneration for his role as a liquidator, but the money was well beyond what he was entitled to as remuneration, and was used for personal expenses such as school fees and electric cars.

Amos’ offences were uncovered by ASIC.

Judge Tupman said Amos was brought undone when the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) began investigating him for his role as external administrator for all five companies.

Amos failed to lodge specific documents for payments and receipts for one company despite numerous requests from the commission.

Amos had also been ordered in April of that year not to accept any more insolvencies.

Judge Tupman said once Amos was aware ASIC was onto him he “began to realise the seriousness of the position he was in”. He later requested his registration as a liquidator be suspended, and eventually his firm, Amos Insolvencies, ceased.

She said Amos knew he was not entitled to take the money, but had completed work for the companies in administration and, in some cases, there was no agreement on remuneration.

Judge Tupman said she accepted Amos was suffering from poor mental health at the time of the offences and claimed he felt “incapable” of confronting creditors to have his remuneration sorted out properly.

The court heard Amos believed he would be able to recover some of the funds to pay back to the companies if needed, or at least be allowed to keep the money as a form of payment.

Judge Tupman said Amos had claimed in an affidavit his mental health had affected his ability to work to the point where he had become “work-avoidant”.

The father of three has since started working in a different industry.

Judge Tupman sentenced Amos to four years behind bars with a non parole period of two years.

Judge Tupman said it had been a “lengthy and difficult” process and that she did not enjoy sending people to jail.

“I am perfectly aware that as an individual, (the time Amos spends in jail) would not benefit (him),” she said.

“I’m also perfectly aware that white collar crime is one of those few areas of sentencing where there is evidence to indicate that general deterrence actually works.”