POLICE arrested a man and woman in Sydney’s west yesterday in relation to a series of alleged frauds regarding the state branch of a national union organisation.
The Trade Union Joint Police Taskforce (TUTF), comprising officers from the NSW Police Force and Australian Federal Police, was established in January this year in response to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (TURC) that concluded in December.
Following extensive inquiries, Task force detectives yesterday (November 17) arrested two people in connection with a series of alleged fraud offences.
Police will allege in court the pair misused union credit cards and conducted fraudulent electronic transfers, and withdrawals of funds from union accounts.
In addition, it’s alleged the man and woman processed false invoices via a third party contractor who supplied services to the union.
About 8am yesterday, a 45-year-old man was arrested at his home on St Marys Road, Berkshire Park, and taken to Windsor Police Station.
He was later charged with 24 fraud-related offences and two counts of participate in a criminal group.
The man was refused bail and is due to face Penrith Local Court today (November 18).
Police allege the total value of the alleged fraud offences amounts to approximately $440,000.
A 35-year-old woman was arrested about 11am yesterday (November 17) at her Shalvey home on Hennessy Crescent, before she was taken to Mount Druitt Police Station.
She was charged with 148 fraud-related offences and two counts of participate in a criminal group.
The woman has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Mount Druitt Local Court on Thursday, December 15.
It’s alleged the total value of the alleged fraud offences amounts to more than $430,000.
Investigations under the Trade Union Joint Police Taskforce (TUTF) are continuing.
Police are urging anyone with information about fraud-related offences to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Police remind people they should not report crime information via the Police’s Facebook and Twitter pages.