2009 media releases

Property developer sentenced for GST fraud
30 June 2009

A Paraparaumu property developer has received 12 months home detention for GST fraud of over $200,000.

Gary Adrian Koornneef was sentenced yesterday in the Wellington District Court after earlier being found guilty on eight charges of tax evasion.

Over the period from September 2002 to September 2005, Koornneef sold eight properties, but failed to pay the GST to Inland Revenue.

Inland Revenue Manager Assurance, Investigations, Richard Philp, said the sentence should remind people the courts take GST fraud seriously.

"Taxes help pay for important services like schools, hospitals, and policing. If people don't pay the tax they should, then it is the whole community that is missing out."

Koornneef is the sole director of Advantage Construction and Consultancy Limited ("Advantage").

In June 2001, Advantage bought a property in Aro Valley, Wellington. The property was subdivided and three townhouses were built. All of the townhouses were sold, but Advantage did not include the sales in its GST returns.

In July 2002, Advantage bought a property in Strathmore, Wellington and carried out another subdivision. Five properties were sold, but Advantage did not pay the GST to Inland Revenue. In four of the cases, no returns were filed, and in the fifth case, Advantage filed a false "Nil" return.

Koornneef told Inland Revenue he was aware he had to pay GST on the property sales. He admitted he used the money to repay debts instead.

The total GST evaded was $233,500.01. Koornneef was ordered to repay this amount.

For further information:
Catherine Delore
(04) 890 1698
(029) 890 1698
catherine.delore@ird.govt.nz

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• New Plymouth woman jailed for fraud
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• Inland Revenue appeals High Court decision
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• Wellington accountant sentenced on tax fraud charges
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more media releases ›

Corporate Communications
Inland Revenue

For all media enquiries phone: 04 890 1698

For general communications enquiries
Phone: (04) 890 1936
Email: corpcomm@ird.govt.nz
Fax: (04) 498 5809

P O Box 2198
12-22 Hawkestone Street
Wellington
New Zealand

Date published: 30 Jun 2009

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