Mrunal Parekh accused of running boiler room scam and defrauding grazier of $750,000

The alleged brains behind a cold-calling scam defrauded a drought-stricken grazier out of about $750,000 within two years, a court was told.

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THE alleged brains behind a cold-calling scam defrauded a drought-stricken grazier of about $750,000 within two years, a court was told.

As part of the alleged scam, Mrunal Narendra Parekh is accused of arranging for a director to go to Hong Kong to open a bank account and make multiple withdrawals of more than $10,000 to pay employees commission.

Parekh faced a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday for fraud of more than $30,000 and money laundering for an alleged boiler room scam ­related to Beyond Global Corporation (BGC) or Aumine.

It is alleged the companies would promise high returns on investment using a combination of sports trading and investment in finances and commodities.

Mrunal Narendra Parekh arrives at Southport Courthouse. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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NSW grazier Leonard Payne said he got a cold call asking him if he was interested in investing. He provided a 76-page statement to the police and said his wife took notes during the calls.

Mr Payne said he understood the investments were “in all sorts of things” including sports trading, finances and commodities.

Asked if he knew there was a gambling component to each investment, he said: “No, not at all. I was interested in the returns. We were in a very difficult financial situation with the drought.”

BGC director Dean McCarthy told the court he was just following Parekh’s instructions.

Mr McCarthy also told the court he had scripts for call centre workers which had been provided to him.

Mr McCarthy told the court Parekh had also organised for Mr McCarthy to go to Hong Kong to open a bank account.

The court was told Mr McCarthy was charged for the alleged scam but those charges were dropped in June after he provided another statement.

The final witness is in hotel quarantine after a trip to Sydney. The committal hearing will conclude on November 24.

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