Supercar-loving pharmacist on fraud charges Ben Huynh says police seizures ‘unlawful’

Ben Huynh – facing allegations he dealt with millions in the proceeds of crime – is demanding cars seized in a raid last year be returned, hiring celebrity lawyer Bryan Wrench and launching legal action in the Federal Court.

Pharmacist Ben Huynh has taken the commonwealth and the federal police to the Federal Court. Picture: Instagram

A Supercar-loving pharmacist facing multiple fraud charges and allegations he dealt with millions in the proceeds of crime is arguing that the police seizure of property items from his Dural trophy home in Sydney’s northwest, which included Ferraris and a BMW, was “unlawful” and is demanding they be returned.

Ben Huynh, 56, a veteran pharmacist who once ran Supercars Club Australia – which organised driving events for owners of high end luxury vehicles – has hired celebrity lawyer Bryan Wrench and launched action in the Federal Court against the Commonwealth of Australia and the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police.

In the NSW criminal courts, Mr Huynh, who ran Cabramatta East Day and Night Pharmacy for 26 years, faces two charges of dishonestly intending to cause a loss and two charges of dealing in the proceeds of crime greater than $1m related to an alleged ­Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme fraud.

A Ferrari seized by the police. Picture: Facebook

An initial charge of obtaining a financial advantage by deception has been removed.

Mr Huynh is yet to enter pleas.

In an application submitted to the Federal Court, Mr Huynh says “in relation to the property seized from the premises at … Dural NSW on 1 November, 2023”, the seizure of items and the ongoing retention of the seized items by the commonwealth and/or the AFP commissioner, is “unlawful”, and orders that the commonwealth and/or the police “return the seized items”. If they won’t return the seized items, he is ordering them to “make a decision” about whether they will return the seized items.

He also argues that the “sharing of seized items” by the AFP commissioner with the commonwealth is unlawful.

AFP officers raided the Huynh residence in November, 2023, vaulting fences at his $20m property and carting away three Ferraris and a BMW owned by Mr Huynh.

The raid was the talk of the town after news police had removed the cars from the 2ha block made it to a local Facebook group, but the reason for the raid was shrouded in secrecy until charges were laid in late ­November. Police allege the pharmacist submitted false claims for medications under the PBS that were not prescribed by a medical practitioner and not supplied to a patient.

Ben Huynh poses with a Lamborghini. Picture: Instagram

Prior to Mr Huynh’s arrest, his wife, who also ran Supercars Club Australia, was an avid social media user, documenting their extravagant lifestyle on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, with her accounts showing the couple travelling the world, buying supercars and attending exclusive events.

His wife, Le Thach, is not ­accused of any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Mr Huynh’s Dural mansion has been transferred from joint ownership to the sole ownership of Ms Thach, with the transfer taking place ­earlier this month.

Documents from the NSW Land Registry Service show the property, which Ms Thach in a video posted to social media said was worth $10m to $20m, was transferred from joint ownership “without monetary consideration and as regards a court order”. Ms Thach in June mortgaged the property with documents filed against the land title showing her company Luv Le had borrowed $5.87m against the house for a one-year period, at a rate of 12.5 to 36 per cent.

While the company entity that runs the business Supercars Club Australia is still registered in her name, the website has been shut down for some months and the company’s social media accounts remain dormant.

Ms Thach either shut down or turned to private most of her ­social media shortly after her ­husband’s arrest.

Mr Huynh’s criminal matter returns to court on Friday.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NEWSWIRE