NSW: Court application could kill tax case against Paul Hogan
08 Dec 2008 12:23 PM
SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - If Paul Hogan is successful in getting rid of the team currently investigating his alleged tax evasion the entire probe could be abandoned, the Federal Court has been told.
The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) is planning to continue its five-year probe into claims the Crocodile Dundee star channelled millions of dollars into offshore tax havens.
But Hogan's lawyers have applied for anyone who has viewed any of 35 seized documents to be excluded from taking part in further investigations.
Justice Arthur Emmett has been told the documents were seized from accountants Ernst & Young in late 2005 and returned by the ACC two months ago.
The ACC determined in March 2006 that the documents were not relevant to its investigation, but held onto them until recently, Hogan's lawyers have said.
In Sydney on Monday, the ACC's Ian Andrew, who heads up the investigation into Hogan's affairs, said that without the expertise of his team the investigation might not be able to continue.
"It would difficult to replace us ... and without a very lengthy briefing, it would impossible to transmit our collective knowledge to the new investigative team, if one could be put together," Mr Andrew told the court.
"There could well be people ... who could be seconded, who have similar qualifications, experience, and inclination but not the collective knowledge.
"In my view I think the ACC would have to consider the merits of continuing the investigation (given the time and money it would take) bringing new investigators' standards of knowledge up to what exists today."
The hearing continues.
