Mr Darren John Blinco, of Logan, Queensland has appeared in court charged with failing to produce books to ASIC.

Mr Blinco, a director of We Just Grind It Vegetation Management Pty Ltd ACN 159259328 (the Company), was the subject of a phoenix surveillance campaign in October 2017. 

As part of its surveillance activities, ASIC served a Notice on the Company requiring it to produce books about its affairs by 7 November 2017. After failing to comply with the first Notice, ASIC subsequently served the Company with a second Notice, with which the Company again failed to comply by the required date.

Mr Blinco was charged with intentionally aiding and abetting the Company to fail to comply with the requirement to produce books to ASIC.

Mr Blinco appeared before the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 1 March 2019.

The matter was adjourned for further mention on 5 April 2019 at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution is prosecuting the matter.

Background

The Company was targeted as part of ASIC’s 2017/2018 Phoenix Surveillance Campaign.

ASIC commenced an investigation after the Company failed to produce certain books pursuant to a Notice issued under section 30 of the ASIC Act 2001.

ASIC is a member of the Phoenix Taskforce, which comprises federal, state and territory government agencies who collaborate to combat illegal phoenix activity. The aim of the Phoenix Taskforce is to provide a whole-of-government approach to identify, disrupt and prosecute those who engage in or facilitate illegal phoenix activity.

Suspected phoenix activity can be reported to the Phoenix Taskforce on 1800 060 062 or online at the ATO website.

Editor's note:

The matter has been adjourned for further mention on 3 May 2019.

Editor's note 2:

The matter has been adjourned for further mention on 7 June 2019.

Editor's note 3:

Mr Blinco appeared before the Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court on 7 June 2019. Mr Blinco entered a plea of guilty and was convicted. He was ordered to pay a fine of $500.