Updated
Former Australian Tax Office deputy commissioner Michael Cranston has been found not guilty of misusing his position to benefit a family member.
Key points:
- Mr Cranston had a 40-year career with the ATO
- He was accused of trying to set up a meeting between the ATO and payroll company Plutus
- His son, Adam, was involved in Plutus, which was facing a $40 million tax bill
The 59-year-old stood trial on two charges — accused of passing on information he obtained as a deputy commissioner and exercising his influence to benefit his son.
During a three-week NSW District Court trial, a jury heard allegations Mr Cranston attempted to set up a meeting between the ATO and payroll company Plutus, which his son was involved with.
The company’s accounts were frozen by the tax office due to alleged unpaid taxes.
The jury took just over two days to reach its not guilty verdict.
Last month, the court was played video of an interview between Mr Cranston and Australian Federal Police (AFP) on the day he was issued a court attendance notice in May 2017.
In the footage, he declared he had “nothing to hide” and was trying to “help the tax office”.
Mr Cranston had a glittering 40-year career with the ATO.
He was accused of trying to set up a meeting between the ATO and Plutus, which was facing a bill of up to $40 million in taxes and other charges.
During the trial, the Crown alleged that between April and May of 2017, Mr Cranston told an employee to contact the audit team handling the Plutus matter, following a request for assistance from his son.
Mr Cranston told the court his son Adam came to see him in January 2017 and showed him a strongly-worded letter the ATO had sent his business associate Simon Anquetil.
“I was concerned because it’s the first time my son raised anything with me to do with taxation and I was grappling with the conflict question,” he said.
“Son-father things can be taken out of context.”
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