money laundering – Michmutters
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Australia

Canberra man accused of money laundering as a result of joint FBI-AFP investigation faces court

A Canberra man arrested in spectacular circumstances last month, after police seized more than $10 million in assets and cash, has appeared for the first time in the ACT Magistrates Court.

Karan Talwar, 35, is facing three charges of dealing with property reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Police allege Mr Talwar laundered money and cryptocurrency through complex transactions from the sale of personal identification information, illegal goods and scams.

It is alleged he has accumulated a significant number of assets with the money he has made.

Police have seized eight Canberra houses, four cars, luxury goods including handbags and more than $1 million in cash.

A police officer stands in front of a car as it is towed away
Four high-end cars were seized by police. (Supplied)

Police also targeted 28 bank accounts and about $600,000 in cryptocurrency.

At the time of the arrest, police searched two homes and a storage unit seizing documents and devices as well as cash.

Mr Tulwar was identified as part of an international investigation into money laundering involving the FBI.

He did not enter a plea and will return to court next month.

A man in a suit walks outside the ACT Magistrates court
Mr Talwar (left) is on police bail after he was arrested last month. (ABC NewsEmma Thompson)

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Categories
Australia

Queensland police charge four people linked to Brisbane gym franchise with money laundering

Queensland police have charged four people as part of a lengthy money laundering investigation in which more than $1.5 million was allegedly transferred to an offshore location.

The charges come after police intercepted a plane at Redcliffe Airport in 2020 and seized cocaine, large quantities of cannabis and $9 million in cash and weapons.

The incident led to Operation Romeo Mugwort and further evidence of the alleged laundering.

Police identified people linked to a gym franchise operating in Brisbane allegedly transferring structured monetary deposits via a money remittance service to an overseas location.

Detectives question a man at a Brisbane gy
Detectives questioned a man at a Brisbane gym allegedly connected to the transfer of money to offshore accounts. (Supplied: Queensland Police Service)

A 33-year-old Morningside man has been charged with nine counts of money laundering knowingly, and a 51-year-old West End woman has been charged with 34 counts of the same offense.

A 37-year-old man from Lawnton and a 44-year-old West End man have each been charged with one count of money laundering knowingly with circumstances of aggravation being part of a criminal organization.

All four have been released on bail and will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 24.

Detectives are expected to make further arrests and have urged anyone with information to contact police.

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Categories
Entertainment

Karl, Jasmine Stefanovic seen on-board James Packer’s yacht in south of France

Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine are the latest big names to be spotted on-board James Packer’s luxury yacht in the south of France.

The 54-year-old Australian billionaire welcomed the Today co-host, 47, his shoe designer wife, 38, and their two-year-old daughter Harper for a day out on the $283 million boat in newly-emerged photos taken last week.

Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke, 41, also joined in on the fun, and was spotted with his rumored girlfriend, Jasmine’s younger sister Jade Yarbrough, 30.

The pair were understood to have been introduced by Stefanovic earlier this year, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph in July.

Earlier today Yarbrough, who runs an interior design company, uploaded an Instagram story with a photo of herself and Clarke strolling the streets of the French Riviera.

Meanwhile, Stefanovic is currently enjoying some time off-air, with co-host Allison Langdon being joined on the Channel 9 breakfast show by Nine reporter Charles Croucher.

Packer has been making headlines amid his lengthy stint overseas, which has seen him host a slew of big names on his yacht including actor and business partner Robert De Niro.

He’s also recently opened up about his new-found health kick which has seen him lose 33kg, telling The Weekend Australian in June that he was ready to start the “third act” of his life as he looks towards a return to Australia following a controversial period for Crown Casino.

“I’m roughly 130kg now and want to be back to 100kg by the end of 2022,” Packer told the publication.

Packer admitted that it “hasn’t been appropriate” to be in Australia amid years of scandals at Crown Casino – which he previously owned a major stake of – including staff getting jailed in China, and several inquiries which found the casino operator enabled money laundering and links to criminal gangs.

With the $8.9 billion sale of his company shares to US private equity firm Blackstone’s finalized on June 24, which saw Packer pocket an enormous $3.36 billion, he’s now ready to plan his return home.

“I want to swim with my kids at Bondi when we’re all in Sydney together next year and be 100kg,” he added.

On the love front, Packer has regularly been joined on his yacht by Danish model Josefine Hanning Jensen, who was recently identified by Confidential.

There’s no word yet on whether Packer and Jensen are romantically linked, or whether she will join him when he eventually heads back to Sydney.

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