Mr Paul Joseph Hanson, of Caroline Springs, Victoria, has appeared at the Magistrates Court of Victoria in Melbourne, charged with three counts of fraud under the Crimes Act (Vic).

Mr Hanson, a former director of Wida Plumbing Supplies Pty Ltd (Wida), operated a plumbing business.

ASIC alleges that approximately eight months after Wida was placed in liquidation, Mr Hanson transferred $124,763.84 from a Wida overdraft bank facility to the personal bank account of a family member. Mr Hanson then arranged for the family member to withdraw the funds, which he used for his own personal use.

The matter was in Court on 21 December 2016. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is prosecuting the matter.

The matter has been adjourned to 1 March 2017.

Background

ASIC was alerted about the alleged contravention by the liquidator of Wida.

The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment.