White collar $165 million scandal: Unemployed tradies and high-profile identities linked to the case

A FORMER crime reporter, a tradie with a penchant for designer trainers and an unemployed plumber who drives a $60,000 car are all allegedly involved in the intricate web of deceit surrounding Australia’s biggest tax fraud investigation.

A HIGH-profile former crime reporter, a tradie with a penchant for designer trainers and an unemployed plumber who drives a $60,000 Subaru WRX are all allegedly involved in the intricate web of deceit surrounding Australia’s biggest tax fraud investigation.

Veteran reporter Steve Barrett was among the people named in documents tendered at Central Local Court yesterday amid claims he joined forces with alleged conspirator Daniel Rostankovski to blackmail bosses of the $165 million tax fraud syndicate by threatening to blow the whistle on the scam. It is believed Rostankovski took Barrett, 59, to a meeting with conspirators early this year to spook them before later making demands for money to be paid out. Barrett has not been charged.

Eddie Obeid’s lawyer Sevag Chalabian.

Veteran crime reporter Steve Barrett.

Others linked to the investigation include Sevag Chalabian, the former lawyer for jailed NSW Labor powerbroker and kingmaker Eddie Obeid.

Mr Chalabian is reportedly among a list of people the co-accused have been ordered by the court magistrate not to contact or associate with.

Adam Cranston is arrested in Bondi.

Adam Cranston leaves the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills.

The federal government is also preparing to talk to technology entrepreneur Simon Anquetil, who founded Plutus. Mr Anquetil hasn’t been charged with any offence and is not alleged to be involved in the fraud.

Simon Anquetil is a technology entrepreneur and the founder of Plutus.

Cash seized as part of the raids. Picture: AAP

The intricate tax scheme allegedly involved legitimate firm Plutus Payroll funnelling payments through a shady system of associated second-tier companies headed by unlikely characters, the names of which have been submitted to Australian Securities and Investments Commission for investigation.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal they include a 33-year-old woman from Gerroa who caused concern when she went missing in January after she last seen at the Windmill Hotel Woonona during the early hours.

This missing woman was last seen in January at the at the Windmill Hotel Woonona.

She is listed as director of one of the second-tier companies.

A Facebook post issued by Wollongong police urges members of the public to contact them, stating that there were concerns for her welfare.

A plumber from Bexley, 23, was director of a Plutus-linked firm.

When contacted by The Daily Telegraph, his mother said he does not work and suffers from sleep ­apnoea.

Yet his Facebook posts feature a gleaming Subaru WRX 2010 STI, which he says he’s “had for a while … until I blew the motor”. His shocked mother last night told The Daily Telegraph: “My son doesn’t run a company, all he does is sleep all day, he’s got that sleeping disease, he comes and goes and lives at home with us.

“He hasn’t got two cents to rub together.” Another company director is a 22-year-old tradie from Hurstville living in Beverly Hills, NSW, with a penchant for garish designer trainers and flicking the V-sign in selfies. Another company director is a 39-year-old from Fairymeadow, who owned an ABN for interior lining and was named as director of another of the linked companies. He is said to be friends with the missing woman from Gerroa.

Senator for NSW Doug Cameron reported the names of the company directors to ASIC after his constituents complained they had not been paid through the second-tier companies.

A spokesman last night said: “When we received complaints that people had not been paid we wanted to help to take up the issue officially with ASIC and The Australian Taxation Office.”