Our Journalists

Ben ButlerNational Investigations Editor

Ben Butler has investigated everything from bikie gangs to multibillion dollar international frauds, with a particular focus on the intersection between the corporate and criminal worlds. He has previously worked for mastheads including The Age, The Australian and The Guardian.

Ben Butler

Latest

ExclusivePolice & Courts

Danny Awad and his wife Sarah Gatto. CREDIT: FACEBOOK

Danny Awad in $5m property bid

Mick Gatto’s son-in-law Danny Awad has claimed a share of a $5m property portfolio alongside lawyer Pat Lennon. See why.

ExclusivePolice & Courts

Jane Lennon, Director at Argyle Lending. Source - https://www.facebook.com/jane.lennon.35

High-profile Melb lawyer and wife referred to legal regulator

A string of judges have criticised Pat Lennon and his lawyer wife, in cases involving the high interest lending business she runs.

ExclusivePolice & Courts

The colourful world of Mick Gatto lawyer Pat Lennon

Pat Lennon’s client list includes underworld royalty Mick Gatto and former champion jockey Danny Nikolic — but the high-profile lawyer now faces financial ruin.

ExclusiveNational

Simeon Boikov today outside Downing Centre Local Court.

Putin fan ‘Aussie Cossack’ holed up in Russian embassy

An Australian pro-Putin YouTuber has sought refuge at the Russian consulate in Sydney following an assault charge.

ExclusiveBusiness

Court acts against fallen Aboriginal funeral fund boss

Youpla former director Bryn Jones’ share in a Queensland property has been frozen after action by the corporate regulator.

Full ListNational

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos SEPTEMBER 16, 2021:, Empty scenes and the effects on food courts and retails outlets amidst Sydney's Covid-19 lockdown ., Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

600 Aussie companies gone bust: What ATO will do next

More Aussie companies have unfortunately gone bust — with more to come as experts revealed what the ATO will do. Search the list and see if they are near where you live.

True Crime

$500,000 cash, guns, drugs seized in clan lab raid; three charged by the Drug and Firearms Squad. Source: NSW Police

$1m pay-off: Who’s paying crime gang ransoms

Australian companies are paying million-dollar ransoms to criminal gangs – despite stern warnings from police as extortion and attacks continue.

Tasmania

Hacker working on computer. Cyber crime concept. Scam, scammer generic.

Why Tassie business was raided by federal police in global sting

A Tasmanian business has been raided by the Australian Federal Police as part of a sweeping international crackdown – and it could be facing an eye-watering fine.

ExclusiveCrime in Focus

RendezView. Beef steak with french fried in white plate on table in restaurant. (Pic: iStock)

New tax rort turns $60 steak into $10 bowl of chips

ATO officials and Federal Police officers have swooped on 35 businesses in search of software that falsifies sales data to avoid tax. See how it works.

Business

a wad of australian 20 dollar notes pressed in a G clamp, vice, money, generic

Corporate cop slams big banks

Australia’s big banks have received yet another bollocking, this time for being “unreasonable” by trying to delay investigations into their fees-for-no-service scandals.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/ben-butler/page/18