A Sydney resident faces charges for allegedly placing a wager on the Australian of the Year awards using insider knowledge.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission discovered betting violations during the 2021 awards, which prompted federal investigations.
Investigators discovered that between 2017 and 2021, a 47-year-old man from Collaroy on the Northern Beaches is suspected of using information obtained from a Commonwealth employee to place multiple wagers on award results.
It is said that he wagered $1767 in bets throughout that period, making $7542.
The individual faces up to two years in prison for each of the six counts of utilising insider knowledge for betting purposes.
Even as the man gets ready to go to court tomorrow, investigations into the case are still ongoing.
In 2021, Grace Tame won the title of Australian of the Year.
Later, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) was tasked with looking into allegations that Tame’s victory had been leaked, according to the National Australia Day Council.
According to Commander Stephen Nutt of the AFP, using inside knowledge damaged the fairness of gambling and hurt participants who followed the regulations.
“The misuse of official or privileged information also erodes public trust in our institutions,” he stated.
“The AFP, ACIC, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and other agencies are constantly on the lookout for suspicious activity on betting and other accounts and can act swiftly if criminal activity occurs.”
