JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
21 October 2008
Sydney man charged with money laundering
offences
A 29-year-old Merrylands man will appear in the Downing Centre Local Court
today charged with money laundering offences following a long running
investigation by the multi-agency Identity Security Strike Team (ISST).
The man was arrested on 18 September 2008 at his residential address.
This arrest marks the 21st person charged as part of the ISST investigation
known as 'Operation Hickey' which focused on an identity crime syndicate in
Australia.
It's alleged the man assisted in the transfer of more than $280,000
fraudulently obtained from financial institutions by a Sydney identity crime
syndicate.
The ISST is a multi-agency taskforce with members from the Australian
Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Crime Commission, NSW Crime
Commission and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
The ISST operates from the AFP's Sydney office with teams also located in
Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. The teams investigate serious and complex
identity security matters forming a collaborative network among law
enforcement agencies to effectively deal with this crime.
The AFP charged the man with dealing in proceeds of crime - money or
property worth $100,000 or more under section 400.4 of the Criminal Code
Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for these offences is 20 years imprisonment.
Media inquiries:
AFP Media (Canberra)
(02) 6275 7100
DIAC Media
(02) 6264 2244
NSW Police Force Media
(02) 8835 8339 or 0425 214 090
ACC Communications
(02) 6243 6648
NEWS 
