Toowoomba man Atem Gabriel Deng, 20, pleads guilty to more than $20,000 tax fraud

In a shortsighted attempt to escape growing debt, a young man stole tens of thousands from the Australian Government.

Atem Gabriel Deng, 20, appeared in Toowoomba District Court to plead guilty to tax fraud. Picture: NewsCorp Australia

A young Toowoomba man has dug himself into a deeper hole of debt after a failed attempt to defraud the government of thousands of dollars.

Atem Gabriel Deng, 20, appearing in Toowoomba District Court, pleaded guilty to illegally obtaining a total of $28,577 from the Australian Taxation Office through fraudulent GST claims.

Prosecutor Sam Knight said Mr Deng, in March of 2022, registered a business under his own name despite having no legitimate reason to do so.

He said Mr Deng then lodged claims to obtain a GST refund, providing false sales information in the process.

“As a result of this fraudulent statement, the ATO provided the defendant with a GST refund of $14,293 to which he was not entitled,” Mr Knight said.

He added a further refund of $14,284 was awarded that same month in response to a second and identical claim.

Atem Gabriel Deng, 20, appeared in Toowoomba District Court to plead guilty to tax fraud. Picture: NewsCorp Australia

Mr Deng’s barrister Tristan Carlos argued his client had committed the offences in a misguided attempt to pay off growing debts.

“He had become indebted to a number of friends at the time and (his offending) has been engaged in order to pay them,” Mr Carlos said.

“He feels badly about his conduct, he wants to make reparation.”

Judge Dennis Lynch KC condemned the actions, stating the effects of Mr Deng’s decision spread far.

“It is an offence committed against the wider Australian public,” he said.

“The tax system in this country relies upon citizens being honest.

“Your offending effectively takes money out of the general pool of resources available to the government to spend on behalf of the people of Australia.”

Mr Deng was formally charged with two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with immediate parole and placed on recognisance order for two years.

Additionally, he was ordered to pay reparations of $27,547.44 to the Commonwealth.