Victorian authorities tight-lipped over identity of person charged in relation to failure of Victorian-headquartered transport group
March 1, 2013
A Victorian woman has been charged with an $86 million fraud in relation to an investigation of the collapse of trucking and logistics firm Viking Group.
The 51-year-old Glen Waverley woman was yesterday charged with four offences – three for obtaining a financial advantage by deception ($33.55 million) and one for attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception ($53 million).
The woman has been bailed by Victoria Police and is expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.
The investigation is ongoing.
Most Viking Group companies went to the wall in 2011 but creditors struggled to locate many assets during the liquidation process.
Early last year, a report to creditors from liquidators at RMS Bird Cameron Partners indicated difficulties in its search, adding that Viking had operated a fleet of more than 500 vehicles comprising prime movers, trailers and associated transport equipment, light trucks, utes, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, cars and exotic sports cars, along with jet skis and a boat.
Mainstream media has reported the search extending interstate, including to Tasmania, where two Kenworth prime movers and some cars were mentioned in court proceedings.
Earlier, then Viking Group
director Steve Iliopoulos had
hit out at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia over the elements of the group being sent into receivership.
