Charges were filed following an ASIC investigation into the collapse of the S Central group of companies, which provided information technology services to customers in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
ASIC alleges that Peter Mavridis of Bentleigh, Victoria, who was the chief executive officer of the S Central Group, either directly or through his financial controller submitted duplicated and falsely inflated invoices to National Australia Bank in order to secure credit in excess of $3 million for companies within the group.
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ASIC also alleges that Mr Mavridis falsified other documents that were required by NAB in support of the false invoices that were submitted.
Mr Mavridis has also been charged with dishonestly using his position as a director by allegedly using $20,000, held on trust for NAB, to clear a personal credit card debt.
ASIC alleges the offences took place between January and October 2009. The S Central Group ceased trading in October 2009, with liquidators appointed to various companies within the group.
For the charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception under section 82(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), the maximum penalty is 10 years' imprisonment.
For the charges of false accounting under section 83(1)(b) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), the maximum penalty is also 10 years' imprisonment.
For the charge of dishonestly using the position of director under section 184 of the Corporations Act 2001, the maximum penalty is $220,000 or 5 years' imprisonment or both.
The matter was adjourned until 10 June 2014.