This week, two separate liquor businesses have been prosecuted for breaching criminal law. This includes two Victorian vineyard operators being charged for an alleged $20 million fraud scam and the owners of a NSW supermarket being charged with selling liquor without a licence.
The unnamed vineyard operators - described as being a 62 year old man from New South Wales and a 56 year old man from Mildura, Victoria - have been charged with multiple offences connected to a $20 million and multi-year fraud scam. Both men were charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, while the Milduran man was also charged with four counts of perjury. The alleged crimes committed include falsifying a range of documents - including cheques and loan documentation to an Australian bank - between September 2010 and March 2016.
Both men have been remanded in custody and will face court next Thursday 17 September.
Also making the news this week was Oriental Express, an unlicensed supermarket in Sydney’s Inner West that sold alcohol to undercover Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors on Wednesday 28 August. The covert inspectors proceeded to seize a broad range of drinks including various flavours of Sizak Soju, Golden River and Pearl River beer, Jiang Xiaobai fruit cube and Jiang Xiaobai fruit cube grape. As it stands, the only product listed above that is currently imported into Australia at commercial levels is Sizak Soju.
According to Jane Lin, Executive Director Regulatory Operations at Liquor & Gaming NSW, “the seized drinks are not clearly marked in English as alcoholic and the packaging of some of them may appeal to minors with bright colours, fruits and emojis.
“Licensed supermarkets have particular controls in place to prevent minors purchasing alcohol or even being in the liquor sales area without a responsible adult… What is most concerning in cases like this is that unlicensed premises are not subject to the same legislative controls as licensed premises are, which increases the risk of alcohol-related harm occurring.”
The owners of Oriental Express will be offered the opportunity to respond to the allegations before further disciplinary action is taken. According to the Liquor Act 2007, the act of selling alcohol without a licence is considered to be one of the most serious offences and attracts fines of up to $11,000, jail time, or both.
“Any liquor held by a person who is found guilty of selling liquor without a licence may be subject to seizure and forfeiture in addition to any penalties that may apply,” said Lin.
“Liquor & Gaming NSW regularly conducts compliance operations in response to reports that some grocery stores sell alcohol without a liquor licence. Previous inspections of grocery stores in Chatswood, Eastwood, Epping, Cabramatta and Mascot found five businesses selling alcohol illegally.”
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