Two Melbourne men appeared in court today to face a range of charges following an investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) into an alleged sophisticated SMSF scam targeting Australian investors.
ASIC stated Joseph Cullia and Zoran Markovic appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates Court following its investigation into suspected fraudulent investment websites that operated between November 2020 and July 2021.
The sites operated under various names and the corporate watchdog claimed the website operators used the Australian financial service licence of two legitimate companies without their knowledge or consent.
Cullia, of Southbank, Victoria, is facing two charges of conspiracy to defraud, two charges of dealing with proceeds of indictable crime (to the value of $1 million or more), one charge of possession of a false document and one charge of possession of identification information intended to be used to commit an indictable offence.
Markovic, of Coburg, Victoria, is facing 13 charges of aiding or abetting the commission of an offence by Cullia, namely dealing with proceeds of indictable crime (to the value of $1 million or more) and one charge of dealing with proceeds of indictable crime (to the value of $10,000 or more).
ASIC said Markovic also faced one charge of possession of a false document, one charge of possession of identification information intended to be used to commit an indictable offence and one charge of possession of equipment to make, use or supply identification documentation to commit an indictable offence.
The matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Cullia and Markovic were granted bail to reappear for committal mention before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 30 April.
