Victorian Liberal frontbencher Richard Riordan estranged brother Anthony charged with tax fraud
The estranged brother of Victorian Liberal frontbencher Richard Riordan has been charged with tax fraud — three months after being charged with stalking.
Police & Courts
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The estranged brother of Victorian Liberal frontbencher Richard Riordan has been charged with a $1.6m tax fraud.
The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday heard Anthony Riordan, 47, was this week hit with 41 fresh charges related to GST frauds involving seven companies and a family trust fund.
The Brighton man is already facing serious stalking and theft offences which could see him jailed for 10 years if found guilty.
Charge sheets reveal that between July 2021 and May 2022 Mr Riordan allegedly lodged numerous false statements to the Australian Taxation Office in order to obtain a financial advantage, namely GST refunds.
The companies embroiled in his alleged criminal activity include Meriton Group Western Australia Pty Ltd, Collett Swallow Property Developments Australasia, Car Assist Australia, APHR Pest Control, Evolution Exploration and Mining Australia, GWTE Earthmoving and Excavation and Mroue & Smith International Food Company.
Charge sheets allege Mr Riordan dealt in proceeds of crime – GST refunds – with a total value of $1.6 million.
The financial crime squad investigation also ensnared 21-year-old Colac man Zachary Matheson.
Mr Matheson is accused of aiding and abetting in GST frauds valued at more than $600,000 between February and May last year.
Both men are on bail, with Mr Riordan required to report to Bayside police station three times a week and Mr Matheson weekly at Colac police station.
In August it was revealed Mr Riordan had been charged with two counts of stalking.
It was alleged he installed a tracking device to the car of his victim “with the intention of arousing apprehension in the victim for his own safety” on January 24 or 25 last year.
He was accused of “staking out the victim’s place of business” and “conducting physical surveillance on the victim” in Geelong suburb Breakwater around the same time.
Police also charged him with the theft of a white 2018 LandCruiser worth $100,000 and a white horse float worth $15,000 at Cape Schanck on the other side of Port Phillip Bay on January 25, 2022.
Mr Riordan’s brother Richard has since 2015 been the member for Polwarth, covering the Colac and Corangamite area.
Before that, Richard Riordan ran his family’s hardware business in Colac and was a government appointed board member of Colac Area Health.
Last November he ran for leadership of the state Liberals but pulled out in favour of Brad Battin, who went on to lose to current leader John Pesutto.
Richard Riordan is currently the shadow minister for emergency services and housing.
He is no longer in contact with his brother.
Anthony Riordan and Mr Matheson will next face court on February 9 next year.
EDITORS NOTE: An earlier version of this article referenced east coast apartment giant Meriton Group as being embroiled in Mr Riordan’s criminal activity. This is not correct and the Sydney-based property company has no involvement whatsoever with Mr Riordan.
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