John Coutsoudes pleads guilty to stealing $18,000 from stepson’s superannuation, tax return

A southern Sydney Uber driver has admitted to transferring thousands of dollars from his stepson’s accounts, with a court now considering his fate.

Carlton resident John Coutsoudes pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

An Uber driver has admitted to stealing more than $18,000 from his former stepson’s superannuation fund and his tax return money, a court has heard.

John Coutsoudes, 45, pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

Agreed facts tendered to court said the victim was 22 at the time and the son of Coutsoudes’ partner of 15 years before their relationship ended in March 2021.

The documents said the Carlton man helped his stepson set up a superannuation management fund and tax file number when he was 16 years old.

On May 29, 2020 Coutsoudes withdrew $10,000 from his stepson’s superannuation account and transferred the money into his own bank account.

Coutsoudes made another withdrawal of $4559 from the account with bank records showing he received a deposit from Rest superannuation in his account on October 5, 2020.

John Coutsoudes will be sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on June 6.

About a month later the stepson’s tax return of $3908 was withdrawn and transferred into Coutsoudes’ bank account.

The stepson noticed the withdrawal of the tax return money and checked his MyGov account, discovering his postal address, email and phone number had been changed to Coutsoudes’ details.

The victim’s mother revealed she was allegedly aware her Coutsoudes had transferred money out of her son’s superannuation account, the documents said.

She has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

The victim inquired with MyGov and learnt the linked bank account had been changed to that of Coutsoudes.

He confronted Coutsoudes in text messages and said, “Johnny I just found out this afternoon that you have taken my super and that I did not know or give you my permission” with Coutsoudes replying, “I didn’t take your money, I borrowed it from you”.

The victim reported the fraudulent transfers totalling $18,467 to police and Coutsoudes was charged in August last year.

In court Magistrate Philip Stewart noted Coutsoudes’ actions appeared to be “planned” but had no previous convictions.

The case was adjourned so a sentence assessment report can be prepared before Coutsoudes is sentenced on June 6.