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As a recent recipient of forensic accountants work, for a claim, I can attest they can say whatever you need them to say, to a certain indefinable extent....
Police have employed a specialist accountant to track the
finances and spending of bikie gangs in the Territory.
The accountant will trace the money trail that connects
legitimate businesses in the Territory to organised crime.
It is the first time a forensic accountant has been employed in
the NT -- the accountant will start work this month.
Territory Police Minister Paul Henderson said the role of the
forensic accountant was "to crack down on people profiting
from crime, particularly drug dealers and suppliers".
But police sources told the Northern Territory News that
unofficially the forensic accountant had been tasked "to hit
the bikies hard and where it hurts -- in the pocket".
The Australian Crime Commission came to the Territory last year
to investigate organised crime rackets being run by Hells Angels.
Police claimed the gang was involved in running drugs and guns
and were involved in the prostitution industry and car theft
rackets.
They said the gang was using legitimate businesses as a front for
its activities.
Territory accountants and lawyers were on its payroll.
The forensic accountant will trace the money back from legitimate
business fronts to underworld dealings and find connections
between criminals and officials.
Mr Henderson would not name bikie gangs as the specific target of
the accountant.
But he agreed the latest NT Police recruit was an extension of
the drug house legislation and Criminal Property Forfeiture
legislation.
"The appointment of a forensic accountant is another tool in
the Martin Government and NT Police fight to crackdown on people
profiting from crime," Mr Henderson said.
"This tough on drugs attack -- including the Drug House
legislation, Criminal Property Forfeiture legislation and Drug
Dog Detector Squad -- is sending a message to drug dealers and
other criminals crime will not pay in the NT."
As of May 27, $1.58 million in property had been restrained under
60 orders under the Martin Government's Criminal Property
Forfeiture Act.
Northern Territory News
