Diesel fitter Rehan Edward Fox, 36, committed a ‘brazen and protracted’ tax fraud despite earning more than $130,000 a year, court told

A fly-in, fly-out diesel fitter on a $130,000 wage knew he was being audited by the Taxation Office over his made-up mining machinery repair business, but he kept submitting false statements anyway, Cairns District Court has been told.

Rehan Edward Fox, 36, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to nine tax-fraud related charges. Picture: Brendan Radke.

A diesel fitter who obtained more than $123,000 from the Australian Taxation Office by submitting false claims for a fake mining machinery equipment repair business tried to keep his scheme going, even after being told he was being audited, Cairns District Court has been told.

Rehan Edward Fox, 36, pleaded guilty to five counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, three counts of attempting to obtain financial advantage, and one of dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Commonwealth prosecutor Trent Denman said Fox obtained $123,000 throughout 2022 by lodging false Business Activity Statements, claiming expenses for his fake business of around $1.8m, and resulting in payments of Goods and Services Tax rebates.

Fox attempted to obtain another $32,900, and submitted one BAS after the ATO told him he would be audited.

Fox was on a $130,000 wage at the time of the fraud, working as a fly-in-fly out diesel fitter in the mines, and spent the money he received on drugs, pokies and a new Mazda BT50 ute, the court was told.

Fox, 36, spent the money he obtained from a “brazen” tax fraud on pokies, drugs and a new ute.

Judge Joshua Trevino KC said Fox’s crime affected the whole community as it robbed money from the public purse.

He sentenced Fox to three years jail, with release on a recognisance order after spending six months in custody.

“This was a protracted course of calculated deceit against the Commonwealth,” said Judge Trevino.

“You were involved in an elaborate deceit … you continued on with the deceit when you should have known the game was up.

“This continued offending was brazen and must be treated as an aggravating feature.”

Defence barrister Martin Longhurst said Fox was struggling with addictions to drugs and gambling at the time of the offences, exacerbated by a relationship break-up.

He said Fox had no similar criminal history and had the means and will to pay back his debt, because of his work history as a fly-in fly-out worker and his qualifications.

He said Fox had pleaded guilty early and had sought help for his mental health issues and addictions, Mr Longhurst said.

Originally published as Diesel fitter Rehan Edward Fox, 36, committed a ‘brazen and protracted’ tax fraud despite earning more than $130,000 a year, court told