Three charged over alleged $1.5m immigration fraud after probe involving Interpol, Slovenian government

Police have worked with its Interpol and Slovenian counterparts to charge three people in relation to an alleged $1.5m immigration fraud scam after a “very complex” two-year investigation.

Interpol Secretary-General Jurgen Stock at their headquarters in the southern French city of Lyon. Interpol assisted NSW Police in the arrests. Picture: AFP

A “lengthy and very complex” NSW Police investigation into an alleged $1.5m Sydney immigration scam has resulted in three arrests, as it was revealed both Interpol and the Slovenian government assisted officers.

Three people have been charged over the alleged scam on the lower north shore where a woman was allegedly defrauded of $1.5m.

Inner West Police Area Command officers launched an investigation in February 2021 following reports the 46-year-old Slovenian woman had been defrauded through a Sydney-based company while trying to arrange an Australian visa.

Inner West crime manager detective inspector Ben Kennis applauded the work of officers.

“This has been a lengthy and very complex fraud investigation that took dedication and persistence by the detectives involved,” he said.

Generic image of a Slovenian passport. NSW Police detectives allegedly uncovered forged Slovenian citizenship documents. Picture: Supplied

“The investigation uncovered an (alleged) complex immigration scam where the victim was deceived into providing large sums of Australian currency.

“Furthermore, the (alleged) forging of Slovenian citizenship documents were uncovered by detectives”.

Inspector Kennis also revealed the multinational effort, which resulted in charges being laid.

Inner West PAC crime manager, detective inspector Ben Kennis.

“The investigation required NSW Police to collaborate with Interpol and the Slovenian government to gather sufficient evidence to prosecute these (alleged) offenders,” he said.

“NSW Police work with national and international partners to ensure that these offences are thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators of serious offending are prosecuted.”

A 36-year-old man was arrested at a Narwee home on May 4, and a 42-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were arrested at a Turramurra home on Tuesday as a result of the police investigation.

Police will allege in court the three people worked at a Chatswood-based immigration company and were hired by a 46-year-old woman and alleged victim to help obtain Australian citizenship for herself and her family in exchange for $1.5m in 2017.

It will also be alleged they transferred the $1.5m into personal bank accounts and were forging documentation, including citizenship documents, without assisting the woman secure an Australian visa.

The three people charged will appear at Hornsby (pictured) and Bankstown local courts at later dates.

The man arrested at the Narwee home was taken to Campsie police station and charged with four offences, including dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and participate in criminal group, and was granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on June 6.

At the Turramurra address where the other two people were arrested, police seized mobile phones, laptops, hard drives, passports and documentation which will undergo forensic examination.

The 42-year-old man was charged with four offences, including dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and knowingly deal with criminal proceeds. The woman was charged with eight offences, including use false document to obtain financial advantage and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.

The pair were granted strict conditional bail and will to appear before Hornsby Local Court on June 14.

Investigations are continuing.