A western Sydney accountant accused of stealing $26 million from clients to finance his lavish lifestyle and gambling habit has been refused bail in court.
Benjamin Leigh Carter, 36, was refused bail in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday over 16 charges, including 14 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, according to a court filing.
He has also been charged with knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime with intent to conceal, and possessing a prohibited drug.
Detectives arrested Carter in a raid on his home in Silverdale, southwest of Sydney, on Tuesday after a month-long probe into reports of fraudulent misconduct.
A short time later detectives arrested a 25-year-old woman at a business in Penrith and later charged her with covering up alleged large-scale tax-related fraud offences.
During a search of both properties, officers seized electronic devices, hard drives and documents as well as a small amount of a substance believed to be cocaine, police said.
The woman was charged with recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime and granted conditional bail to appear in Penrith Local Court on July 27.
Police have said they will allege in court Carter defrauded at least eight accounting clients of $26 million to fund his lifestyle and gambling, and argue the woman tried to hide the misconduct.
Police said they will also allege Carter had links to organised criminal networks.
The matter is next listed at Penrith Local Court on September 8.
