ACG Security scam: tax fraudsters including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodyguard avoid jail time
A kingpin in a Melbourne security industry firm who helped bring Arnold Schwarzenegger to Australia, and two colleagues, have escaped jail terms for their roles in a million-dollar tax fraud.
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Three men linked to a security company ran by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Melbourne bodyguard have all avoided jail sentences for their roles in a prolonged tax fraud.
Julian Milla, Chris Georgiou and Sam Karam were sentenced in the County Court after pleading guilty to dishonestly causing a loss or risk of loss to the Commonwealth.
Milla, Georgiou and Karam joined Mohamed Ammouchi, Frank Moussa and Harry Korras as co-offenders to front court for the million-dollar tax scam which ran between 2011 and 2014.
The loss incurred to the Commonwealth by each individual ranged from $86,000 to almost $3 million.
Korras, who was sentenced last October, evaded paying tax with an “off the books” wages scheme for guards at his ACG national security company.
ACG was a heavy-hitter within Australia’s security industry with clients including the Port of Melbourne Authority, Etihad Stadium, Coca Cola, and the three major Melbourne metro racecourses.
ACG also provided security at major sporting events including the Spring Racing Carnival and the Australian Open tennis, the court heard.
Korras – who denied claims he was Schwarzenegger’s bodyguard – was photographed accompanying the Hollywood muscle man during his Melbourne tours.
Korras – who had his security licence revoked after he was charged with fraud – claimed he was just an “events manager”.
Several guards who thought they were employees of ACG were actually employed by security firms ran by Ammouchi and Moussa.
Milla, 49, sentenced on May 7, was the last offender to front court over the scam.
Judge Douglas Trapnell said Milla’s offending was “not victimless”.
“Serious tax fraud will inevitably have flow-on effects to the incidence of taxation imposed on, and paid by, honest taxpayers,” he said.
Judge Trapnell gave each man a three-year suspended sentence and a fine, except Korras who was handed a two-and-a-half year suspended jail sentence.
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