Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Paul Hogan settles with the Tax Office as Operation Wickenby pursuit ends

One of the country's longest running and most bitter tax disputes is finally over with Paul Hogan and John Cornell striking a confidential deal with the Australian Tax Office.

Listen to my interview with Paul Hogan's lawyer, Andrew Robinson, broadcast this morning on the ABC's AM.

The pair had been targeted by the ATO's Operation Wickenby which has been pursuing high wealth tax evaders.

The confidential settlement, reached on a "without admission" basis before a former High Court judge, lifts an order prohibiting Mr Hogan to travel outside Australia.

Mr Hogan was controversially banned from leaving the country at the request of the ATO after attending his mother's funeral during a two-week stand-off in September 2010.

The ATO pursued Mr Hogan for almost a decade over $150 million in unpaid tax, penalties and interest, and had alleged he used offshore tax havens.

No charges were ever laid and Mr Hogan consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The $300 million operation investigated high-profile Australians over fraud claims, and had been circling Hogan for years.

The operation has led to more than 60 charges, but the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) discontinued its criminal investigation of Mr Hogan and Mr Cornell last year.

1 comment:

  1. It seems the image is forever soiled no matter the facts.

    Money interferes with out thoughts always.

    ReplyDelete

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