NSW: Inmates rort $600,000 from taxpayers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2004
NSW: Inmates rort $600,000 from taxpayers

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Up to 40 convicted prisoners serving time in NSW jails were
allegedly involved in a tax rort earning them around $600,000, it was revealed today.

Justice Minister John Hatzistergos said the prisoners had allegedly lodged tax returns
with false claims for deductions with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

"The Tax Office (is) interested in up to 40 serving and former inmates following the
detection of some $600,000 in suspected fraudulent refunds," he said in a statement.

"Taxpayers would I'm sure be horrified to learn that convicted prisoners were able
to make falsified claims to the Australian Taxation Office defrauding taxpayers of hard
earned money."

Mr Hatzistergos said new measures were now being developed by the NSW government to
prevent inmates from making fake claims.

The measures will follow procedures developed in Western Australia after a prisoner
helped other inmates lodge more than $1 million worth of fraudulent claims.

AAP kjd/jv

KEYWORD: TAX PRISONERS

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