Top GC cosmetic injector embroiled in failed attempt to defraud Australian Taxation Office
A renowned Gold Coast cosmetic injector has faced court after a failed attempt to defraud the Australian Taxation Office. Find out what she did
Police & Courts
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One of the Gold Coast’s top cosmetic injectors has been embroiled in an elaborate scheme to defraud the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Surfers Paradise cosmetic injector and registered nurse Irina Mekhanikova, 54, pleaded guilty in Southport District Court to one count each of disposing property with intent to defraud, concealing property and making false declarations in an attempt to defraud the ATO.
Between 2011 and 2019 Mekhanikova, who currently runs the Surfers Paradise company Aesthetic Nurse Irina, was the co-director of her husband’s former bottleshop Liquorcoast Pty Ltd, the court was told.
A 2021 an ATO audit of the company revealed the couple owed more than $226,000 in unpaid excise duties.
The audit also found that the company had been liquidated and deregistered for some time and deemed Mekhanikova and her husband personally liable for the debt. A statutory demand to pay or enter a payment plan was then issued.
But just a week after the audit, the couple began liquidating, concealing and disposing their assets, crown prosecutor Ameera Mahomed Ismail said.
In May 2021, Mekhanikova reached out to a real estate agent to sell a plot of land she owned in Tasmania. In September it sold for $285,000 and she received about $274,000 in settlement funds which she “gifted” to her husband.
The court was told Mekhanikova’s husband then used the money to buy gold bullion in November.
A month later, Mekhanikova withdrew $102,000 from an undisclosed ING bank account under her name and transferred the money into various cryptocurrency accounts.
Now appearing eligible, the couple secured a personal insolvency agreement, Ms Mahomed Ismail said.
However Mekhanikova failed to disclose the sale of her land, the gifting of money and the cryptocurrency transfers in the statement of affairs document.
Ms Mahomed Ismail said eventually the couple volunteered to vary their agreement and repay their creditors with the ATO receiving approximately $153,000.
Defence barrister Bernard Reilly instructed by Ashkan Tai Lawyers said while Mekhanikova was a co-director, the now bust Liquorcoast Pty Ltd was primarily operated by her husband.
He said her husband used Mekhanikova because of her “superior English” as an “intermediary” for his business.
“She wasn’t the mastermind behind the machinations involving the transfers,” Mr Reilly said.
“Rather she was the means through which he wanted things to be done.”
Mr Reilly said it was her husband who came up with the suggestion to claim bankruptcy, which she originally pushed back against but eventually agreed with to “avoid marital conflict”.
The court was told Mekhanikova’s husband, the co-accused, was sentenced last year on charges related to the unpaid excise duties.
Judge Katarina Prskalo sentenced Mekhanikova to 12 months imprisonment, released forthwith on a $1000 recognisance and 18-month good behaviour bond.
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