Carl Soriano, Naweena Sukkasem face court for alleged identity theft scam

Five people accused of an elaborate identity theft scam have had a hefty slew of charges dropped. 

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UPDATE

Five people accused of an elaborate identity theft scam have had a hefty slew of charges dropped.

Meanwhile the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has relinquished the case and handed it back to the police.

“I don’t know why the DPP would do this after they have done all this work,” said Magistrate Clare Farnan.

Carl Soriano, 44, of Eastgardens remains before the court on single charges of participating in a criminal group and knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group and five counts of dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence.

However he had 35 charges dropped when his matter came before Central Local Court on Thursday March 25, most of which related to dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Soriano appeared before Magistrate Farnan via videolink from John Moroney Correctional Centre where he is on remand.

Weeraya Limsitthisarn leaves central local court on March 25, 2021 in the company of her lawyer Nick Hanna

Weeraya Limsitthisam, the only one of the five on bail, appeared in person at the court represented by her lawyer Nick Hanna of Hanna Legal.

The diminutive white haired woman had her arm in a sling during proceedings and she wrapped herself in a SuperDry jacket.

Limsitthisam faces one charge of participating in a criminal group and six counts of possessing identity information with intent.

She had five charges of dealing with the proceeds of crime withdrawn.

Fellow female co-accused Naweena Sukkasem, 42, of Eastgardens appeared in court via videolink from Dillwynia Women’s Correctional Centre where she is on remand.

Sukkasem pleaded not guilty to one count each of knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group and dealing with property which is the proceeds of crime.

She also pleaded not guilty to six counts of possessing identity information with intent.

Sukkasem had 19 charges of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime dropped.

Jakkawan Wongsuwan, 41, of South Coogee is before the court on one charge each of knowingly participating in a criminal group and possessing identity information with intent.

The man, who is also in John Moroney on remand, had 17 counts of knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime dropped.

Ritthichai Nacksan, who was assisted in court by a Thai interpreter, remains on one count each of knowingly taking part in a criminal group and possessing identity information with intent.

Nacksan, who is on remand in John Moroney, had 17 counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime withdrawn.

The five co-accused will next appear before Central Local Court on April 14.

A woman and two men were arrested during raids in Sydney’s east on Wednesday. Picture: NSW Police

EARLIER

BY JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS ON AUGUST 27, 2020

Alleged identity theft scam fleeced $500k from Aussies

Three people are facing more than 70 charges after police dismantled an alleged sophisticated identity theft and money laundering syndicate.

Detectives from the Cybercrime Squad raided three properties in Eastgardens, Coogee and Randwick at 7:30am yesterday where they allegedly found more than 150 mobile phones, 300 credit cards and 300 SIM cards.

Police allege they also seized $11,580 in cash, personal identity documentation, computer and electronic equipment and 18g of a substance believed to be the drug ice, $50,000 in luxury handbags, a Land Rover and a Holden Commodore.

Naweena Sukkasem, 42 and Carl Soriano, 44, were arrested at the Eastgardens home and Jakkawan Wongsuwan, 41, was arrested at the South Coogee home.

All three were taken to Mascot Police Station and their cases were mentioned in Central Local Court on Thursday morning.

Their matters were adjourned with the court hearing the investigation was still ongoing and there were likely to be a number of other charges laid on the accused, as well as a possible fourth person.

None of the accused applied for bail and bail was formally refused.

They will be back in court in October.

Police have been investigating the alleged scam since April. Picture: NSW Police.

The group allegedly used stolen personal information to apply for credit cards in Australian resident’s names to obtain cash, cryptocurrency, phones and household goods.

Sukkasem was charged with 20 offences including knowingly direct the activities of a criminal group. Police will allege the woman was the leader of the syndicate and stole more than $150,000 from the scam.

Soriano was charged with 35 offences including participating in a known criminal group, and police say the man obtained nearly $300,000 from the cyber scam.

Wongsuwan faces 18 charges and allegedly stole more than $27,000 in the scam.

The three were arrested in Sydney’s east yesterday over an alleged identify theft and money laundering scam. Picture: NSW Police

Police said the alleged cyber crime syndicate used the proceeds of their identity theft scam to fund a luxury lifestyle, with half a million in designer handbags and a Land Rover considered proceeds of the crime.

Police say they expect to make further arrests connected to the scam, which targeted “hard working Australians”.

“There’s many hundreds if not more victims potentially involved in the alleged offending, and the process of contacting these people has begun,” Detective Inspector Ian Wright said.

“The victims of this alleged activity that we have been in contact with had no idea their identities had been used in this way … many of the people who are victims of this crime are everyday hard working Australians having their hard earned money and assets compromised by these types of cyber scams,” he said.

Police allege the syndicate fraudulently obtained nearly $500,000 with false personal identification information. Picture: NSW Police

The amount of money laundered in the “sophisticated” organisation is expected to reach millions as investigations continue.

Cybercrime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft, said the alleged syndicate was dismantled after months of detective work.

“Over the past five months, Cybercrime Squad detectives have conducted an extensive investigation into this sophisticated syndicate targeting hard working Australians across the state,” Det Supt Craft said.

“Police will allege that this syndicate fraudulently obtained nearly $500,000 with false personal identification information which was used to launder money through fake bank accounts, cryptocurrency and gift cards,” he said.

“Inquiries into the origin of the personal identification are ongoing, but investigators have confirmed that they were created without the knowledge of the legitimate persons.”