Supercars enthusiast, pharmacist Ben Huynh faces jail time over alleged PBS fraud

Three weeks ago, multiple Ferraris were seized from the Dural home of Supercar fanatic Ben Huynh. The pharmacist by day has now faced a Sydney court.

Pharmacist Ben Huynh and wife Le Hoa Thuy Thach. Picture: Instagram

A Supercars enthusiast and pharmacist could spend up to 10 years in prison over an alleged Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme fraud.

Australian Federal Police vaulted over fences of a trophy home at Dural, in Sydney’s northwest, and carted away three Ferraris and a BMW owned by Ben Huynh earlier this month.

The raid was the talk of the town after the news that police had removed the cars from the 2ha block made it to a local Facebook group, but the reason for the raid has been shrouded in secrecy ever since.

Mr Huynh is the 26-year proprietor of the Cabramatta East Day and Night Pharmacy and a high-profile member of Supercars Club Australia, a group founded by his wife, entrepreneur Le Hoa Thuy Thach.

Following the 56-year-old’s first court appearance on Tuesday in Sydney, it was revealed in court documents the veteran pharmacist has been charged with obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

Police allege he submitted false claims for medications under the PBS that were not prescribed by a medical practitioner and not supplied to a patient.

It is not yet clear how much he is alleged to have defrauded, but the charge comes with a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. His wife, Ms Thach, is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Mr Huynh appeared with his lawyer, Shaun Titmarsh, at the Downing Centre Local Court, where the matter was adjourned to next year.

One of the red Ferraris seized at the stately Dural property had “888” emblazoned on the side. Mr Huynh recently had taken the car for a spin at the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in South Australia during the Festival of Ferrari.

One of the Ferraris seized in Dural. Picture: Facebook

Ben Huynh at the Festival of Ferrari 2023 in South Australia. Picture: Instagram

The Dural home was bought for $1.9m in 2001. Instagram accounts associated with Mr Huynh and that of the Supercars club document a lavish lifestyle including a trip to Bangkok hosted by Lamborghini and a recent outing to The Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup, with Mr Huynh apparently a guest of Crown.

Supercars Club Australia caters for the owners of high-end vehicles. Its Instagram page has 2500 followers and its bio reads: “An exclusive club for supercar owners, sharing a passion for cars and luxury lifestyle”. “To become a member, you must own at least a Supercar, that is Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren, not SUVs,” the club website states.

In a post to the Supercars Club Australia page in December last year, Mr Huynh was congratulated on his “new #lamborghini Aventador Ultimae Roadster”.