Vic: Wheatley's solicitor gets two years for tax avoidance

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2010
Vic: Wheatley's solicitor gets two years for tax avoidance

MELBOURNE, April 15 AAP - A solicitor who helped entertainment promoter Glenn Wheatley
in a tax avoidance scheme will spend at least a year behind bars.

Paul John Gregory, 61, of NSW, was convicted in February of helping Mr Wheatley hide
profit from one of boxing greats Kostya Tszyu's world title fight in 2003.

He was found guilty on a charge of conspiring with Mr Wheatley and others to dishonestly
cause a risk of loss to the Commonwealth between 2003 and 2004.

Victorian Supreme Court Justice Simon Whelan said Gregory's conduct was calculated
and deceptive aimed at enabling Mr Wheatley to avoid tax.

"Your conduct involved blatant dishonesty and the exploitation of your position as
a solicitor," he said.

The judge said a jail term was needed for others to know that becoming involved in
such deceptive schemes would attract severe punishment.

Gregory was sentenced to a two-year jail term under which he must serve one year in
a Victorian jail.

After that he will be released on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

AAP mi/szp/cdh

KEYWORD: GREGORY

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