John Buff rorts corporate giant of $1.4m by pocketing tax payment
He was the trusted Melbourne accountant asked to run the numbers for his mate’s business empire — in return he lined his greedy pockets to the tune of $1.4m.
A dodgy Melbourne accountant who dabbled in investing in Victorian and South Australian pubs lined his pockets with $1.4m he conned out of his business tycoon mate.
John Buff, of Doncaster, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Wednesday to four charges of obtaining property by deception and two of obtaining a financial advantage by deception from the O’Hare Group between February 2009 and August 2013.
The 68-year-old was a trusted friend of the O’Hare Group chief executive, Kerry O’Hare, having met the business titan at a seminar in 1983 and provided accounting advice to various companies operating under the group’s control
They includ the York Hotels Victoria which traded as Vaucluse Hotel, Makesafe Security Solutions, Makesafe Traffic Management and Western Port Investment.
Buff dishonestly obtained $975,265 from York Hotels, $263,413 from Western Port Investment, $125,232 from Makesafe Security Solutions, $88,000 from OHD Proprietary and $17,854 from David and Nicole O’Hare Pty Ltd.
He became the group’s accountant in 2001, and as part of their friendship, he helped Mr O’Hare and his wife Glenys negotiate the purchase of the York on Lilydale Resort and provided advice about a greatly reduced tax liability.
Apart from being an accountant, Buff was also the director of a number of companies that dealt with fencing, shed building, swimming pool and equine, and had investments in various hotels and motels in Victoria and South Australia.
Buff was remanded on bail to appear for a plea hearing on February 13, 2026.
