Ankit Jayesh Mashru to stand trial over allegations he defrauded up to 10 people in loan scheme
A former Gold Coast resident who allegedly defrauded members of southeast Queensland’s Indian diaspora via a loan scheme has been committed to the District Court to stand trial. Here’s what we know.
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An alleged fraudster charged with swindling members of the Gold Coast’s Indian community of hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions, has been committed to stand trial.
Toowong man Ankit Jayesh Mashru, 34, formerly of Pimpama, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday for a committal proceeding.
He is facing two charges of fraud of a value greater than $100,000, which police allege were committed on various dates between November 2021 and his arrest on October 11 last year.
This masthead previously reported police believe as much as $2.4m may have been allegedly swindled.
The quantum of the alleged fraud to be tried in the higher court will ultimately be a decision of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Mashru is alleged to have targeted members of the Gold Coast’s Indian community with fraudulent loan schemes for non-existent businesses.
Police allege there were as many as 10 complainants who lost money.
Defence lawyer Matthew Scott indicated to the court his client would be disputing the charges, necessitating a future trial listing, although no pleas have been entered yet.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Matthew Thompson tendered a large bundle of material the Crown would be seeking to rely on during future proceedings.
They included multiple written witness statements, footage of Mr Mashru’s records of interviews with investigators, and financial records.
Mr Mashru’s bail, which includes conditions such as the provision of a $50,000 surety, reporting to police three times a week, and not leaving the country, were continued largely on the same terms.
However, they were varied slightly to allow him to approach international airport terminals in the context of his new-found employment as a courier.
Magistrate Nerida Wilson committed Mr Mashru to stand trial in the Southport District Court on a date to be fixed.
The Crown has up to six months to formally present an indictment to the court, which would then allow the matter to progress.
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Originally published as Ankit Jayesh Mashru to stand trial over allegations he defrauded up to 10 people in loan scheme
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