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A Perth tax agent is among a trio charged with allegedly concealing and disposing of a property worth more than $500,000 before a bankruptcy, with possible jail time looming.
Accountant charged over bankruptcy fraud advice
05 May 2021
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7 minute read
An investigation by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) alleges that Sean Mauk and Sally Mauk, as well as their accountant Charles Roborg-Sondergaard, worked together to conceal or transfer funds that should have been available to creditors in Mr Mauk’s bankruptcy estate.
The regulator believes funds comprising more than $500,000 from a deceased estate were disposed of before Mr Mauk’s bankruptcy commenced in March 2018.
The accountant, Mr Roborg-Sondergaard, is currently registered with the Tax Practitioners Board and operates out of Osborne Park in Perth.
The trio have since indicated their intention to plead not guilty to a total of four charges under the Bankruptcy Act 1966.
Each of the four charges carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $63,000.
AFSA deputy chief executive Gavin McCosker said the case highlighted the importance of qualified advice and affirmed his office’s stance against untrustworthy advisers.
“Financial hardship can be a stressful and confronting time for an individual, but that is no excuse for acting dishonestly to deliberately disadvantage creditors,” Mr McCosker said.
“People cannot absolve themselves of wrongdoing by claiming to have acted on professional advice.
“Reducing harmful actions by those providing untrustworthy advice has been a key focus area for AFSA in recent years and will continue to be a priority in years to come.”
Mr McCosker has also urged individuals experiencing financial difficulty to reach out for assistance on the National Debt Helpline or through AFSA’s website.
“If you are in financial hardship and are unsure about the advice you’re receiving, or if you’re not sure where to begin, it is best to contact a reputable source for assistance,” he said.
“The National Debt Helpline can provide free assistance on their hotline, 1800 007 007.”
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- This matter is being heard in the Perth District Court right now. Very interesting to see how this web of lies and deceit will unravel.
Today is day four, Friday 2nd Feb 2024. Trial is due to end Wednesday 7th February 2024. It will be very interesting to see the outcome. I hope there is news coverage of this story.0 - Only a matter of time for things to catch up to Charles Sondergaard. I hope he gets all he deserves. This made my morning.0
- This couples history will be revealed.5
- Yes indeed! Congratulations to all involved in getting the hearing to this point. 'The answer is out there!' :cry:3
- There is definitely more to this story. All will be revealed.3
- Apparently Mauk was a Financial Advisor, I seriously doubt this is their first foray into fraudulent financial activity, perhaps further investigation will unravel the historical sordid details of this trio.4
- Frankly, I would want to know what the tax agent actually did to make him part of this transaction. The way clients (and solicitors) are behaving, one cant help but wonder if the clients were looking for a scapegoat once everything went bad. Who would put their future on the line to give dodgy advice? I cant condemn the accountant till I know his degree of involvement.2
- Accountant overstepped the mark. Get the feeling that the bankrupt clients, inherited an asset from a poorly designed Will, without a testamentary trust and the accountant tried to stop it going to creditors. Why, loyalty, sympathy – maybe both, who knows. Hard to imagine he did it to make a quick buck. Cannot seem him going to jail but can see him losing his tax agent’s licence and other professional memberships. He broke the law, no excuse. This accountant should be a warning to us all. Too many accountants out there are client desperate and lack the stamina to terminate a relationship. Over the years I have booted client’s out of my practice more than a few times only to get an ethical letter from a new accountant, who I know must know, that the client had not left us we dropped them and got rid of them for a reason.4
- i would say they got great advice-1
- silly men!-1
