Paul Hogan to sue Federal Government

Eric Frei · 6th January 2011, 07:58 AM

He has been defending himself for years against Tax Office claims.

He also was banned from leaving the country for while.

Paul Hogan grounded in Australia by Australian Tax Office over alleged tax debt | The Daily Telegraph

He fought that and then could leave.

Paul Hogan Given Permission To Leave Australia - Starpulse.com

Now the case against him has been dropped.

Paul Hogan set to sue for $80m over failed tax fraud inquiry | Herald Sun

Quote:

January 06, 2011
PAUL Hogan is preparing to launch a lawsuit for as much as $80 million against the Federal Government over the failed five-year criminal investigation of his tax affairs.

Hogan's Sydney lawyer Andrew Robinson yesterday said that two film industry figures were preparing to testify the Crocodile Dundee star had lost "$10 million to $15 million per annum" during the Operation Wickenby criminal investigation.

Six weeks ago, the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) announced it had dropped its pursuit of criminal charges against Hogan and said it was "not justified in the public interest".

But Hogan remained angry, saying he had been "publicly declared to be a criminal, a fraud, money launderer and tax evader".

Hogan is preparing to enlist the services of high-profile barrister Stephen Keim SC who successfully represented former Gold Coast doctor Mohamed Haneef.

Last month, Dr Haneef received a "substantial" cash settlement - believed to have been several million dollars - after he was falsely implicated in an international terror plot in 2007 and thrown into solitary confinement.

"I'm having a meeting with Stephen Keim next week about a damages claim on behalf of Paul Hogan," Mr Robinson said.

"I have instructions to brief him [about the case]."

Mr Robinson said there were two movie figures preparing to give evidence.

"We already have a film producer and financier who are prepared to testify Hogan's loss of income during the period of the investigation has been in the range of $10 million to $15 million per annum."

Hogan said last month that job offers had dried up in the five years he was investigated.

"I used to have a lot of calls from around the world to be a pitch man," he said.

"I would receive many invitations a month ... Now that has been destroyed - no one calls me and I haven't spoken to my agent in months."

The criminal investigation by the ACC made Hogan the poster boy for the $300 million Operation Wickenby, which focused on the alleged use of tax havens by high-profile Australians.

Mr Robinson said the case "wasn't even strong enough to put to the DPP for a decision on whether to prosecute or not".

Former ATO senior audit manager Chris Seage said Hogan's tarnished image as a result of the negative publicity affected his bankability during the period.

The undisclosed "substantial" settlement paid to Dr Haneef may pale in comparison to any in the Hogan affair, he said.

"Dr Haneef was a young doctor working on the Gold Coast; Paul Hogan's earning capacity would have dwarfed that of a young medical practitioner," Mr Seage said.

Based on a $15-million-a-year claim by Hogan, "you could be looking at a [total] claim of upwards of $80 million including interest", Mr Seage said.

"Taxpayers could end up the real losers."

Drouin Tree Service · 6th January 2011, 08:18 AM

Hope he wins,It really was a tall poppy syndrome chasing him after all the good tourism work.

6th January 2011, 08:18 AM	#2
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,728	Re: Paul Hogan to sue Federal Government Hope he wins,It really was a tall poppy syndrome chasing him after all the good tourism work. __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

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