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Livestock exporter forges import documents

Publisher
The Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
Date published
May 2018

Relevant impacts: Industry impact, environmental impact and reputational impact

The general manager of a livestock exporter provided forged documents to the Australian Government to obtain approval to export live sheep to Pakistan. The manager caused his employee (without knowing) to alter import requirements from the Pakistani Government and draft a certificate of health to make the sheep appear eligible to be imported into the country. The manager was found guilty of fraud under the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth) and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Related countermeasures

Establish governance, accountability and oversight of processes by using delegations and requiring committees and project boards to oversee critical decisions and risk. Good governance, accountability and oversight increases transparency and reduces the opportunity for fraud.

Verify any requests or claim information you receive with an independent and credible source.

Internal or external audits or reviews evaluate the process, purpose and outcome of activities. Clients, public officials or contractors can take advantage of weaknesses in government programs and systems to commit fraud, act corruptly, and avoid exposure.

Train and support staff to identify red flags to detect fraud, know what to do if they suspect fraud and know how to report it. Fraudsters can take advantage if staff and contractors are not aware of what constitutes fraud and corruption.

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