Australian authorities have seized more than $580,000 after investigating a visa fraud scheme linked to a 61-year-old man from the New South Wales Central Coast.The case centered on the abuse of the Australian immigration system, including the regional subsidized immigration system. Investigators alleged the man received large sums of money to help him submit visa applications containing false information submitted to immigration authorities, Australia Today reported.Financial investigations revealed that hundreds of thousands of dollars moved through bank accounts linked to the man.
Some of the funds were used to purchase other assets, prompting the Armed Forces of the Philippines-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Task Force to take action to restrict and confiscate the funds.Earlier this week, the NSW Supreme Court ordered the forfeiture of $117,000 after the man admitted the money was the proceeds of crimes committed between July 2017 and May 2020. The crimes included providing false documents to officials exercising powers under the Immigration Act in relation to applications from non-citizens seeking to remain in Australia.
The court’s latest ruling brings the total amount forfeited to the Commonwealth to $583,146.44.The man was sentenced in December 2025 to four years in prison and must serve a minimum of two and a half years without parole. The confiscated funds will be used to support crime prevention programmes, strengthen law enforcement capabilities and fund community initiatives.The Criminal Assets Confiscation Task Force has seized criminal assets worth more than $1.3 billion since July 2019, including property, luxury vehicles, artwork and yachts. AFP said it would continue to target criminal proceeds to ensure criminals do not benefit financially from illegal behaviour.