Pakistani court sentences ex-prime minister Imran Khan to 14 years in prison – 17 January 2025
A Pakistani court has sentenced the country’s former prime minister Imran Khan to 14 years in jail after finding him guilty of corruption. His wife was also sentenced to seven years in the same case. The couple are accused of accepting a gift of land from a real estate tycoon in exchange for laundered money when Khan was in power.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-17/pakistani-court-sentences-ex-prime-minister-to-14-years-prison/104831782


Victorian ‘whistleblower’ prosecuted after leaking information from Lawyer X investigation office – 17 January 2025
A public servant who leaked details about an investigation into Victoria’s Lawyer X scandal has been taken to court. It came after the state’s integrity watchdog launched a probe to find out who was behind the source of leaks to the Herald Sun.
The public servant was granted a diversion, meaning they will not receive a conviction or a blemish on their criminal record if they are of good behaviour for the next six months.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-17/victorian-whistleblower-prosecuted-after-leaking-from-osi/104829030


Australia Post warning over $19.3 million QR code rort: ‘Record amounts’ – 18 January 2025
Aussies are being urged to be on the lookout for a new “sophisticated” scam that’s lurking on Facebook Marketplace. Scammers are using fake QR codes from Australia Post to make sellers think that they have prepaid shipping for the item they’re offloading to the buyer. The seller is told to scan these codes to get the money for the item and confirm the sale, but that’s where the heist happens.
The code takes people to a phishing site that isn’t the official Australia Post website and your valuable personal and banking information can be stolen

https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/australia-post-warning-over-193-million-qr-code-rort-record-amounts-230003572.html


Centrelink payment warning after Aussies targeted: ‘Urgently update’ – 20 January 2025
The new Centrelink scam of most concern at the moment, involves emails pretending to be from Centrelink, that claim you need to “urgently update” your details therwise your payments will be stopped. But the email will contain a fake myGov website that can steal your valuable information.

https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/centrelink-payment-warning-after-aussies-targeted-urgently-update-212710600.html


KPMG under investigation over audit of gambling company Entain – 20 January 2025
The accounting firm KPMG is under investigation by the sector’s UK regulator over its audit of the 2022 accounts of the gambling company Entain which owns brands including Ladbrokes, Coral and Sportingbet.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/20/kpmg-investigation-entain-frc


Three people, including ex-NAB employee, sentenced for trying to defraud bank of $21 million – 20 January 2025
Three people, including former NAB employee Monika Singh, have been sentenced for trying to defraud the bank of $21 million by using fake vouchers. Reports on the suitability of home detention for the trio are set to be tabled in court on March 21, but Justice Woodburne warned jail was still an option.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-20/trio-one-ex-employee-sentenced-trying-scam-nab-21-million/104838876


Historic fraud offences, Gympie and Gold Coast – 23 January 2025
Police have charged a man with 140 alleged fraud offences after extensive investigations into a series of incidents allegedly committed in 2019 and 2020 in Gympie and on the Gold Coast. The man allegedly fraudulently obtained and attempted to fraudulently obtain loans through various financial institutions, using the stolen identities of multiple people known to him.

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/maryborough/2025/01/23/historic-fraud-offences-gympie-and-gold-coast/


Canberra tribunal orders $90,000 payout for KFC employee told to express breastmilk in toilet or storeroom – 23 January 2025
A Canberra mother has been awarded $90,000 in compensation by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal after she successfully won a discrimination case against her employer. ACAT found the former KFC employee was not provided with flexible working arrangements and was instead told to express breastmilk in the toilet or a camping-style toilet.
The employer has been ordered to review its policies around giving breastfeeding employees access to adequate facilities for expressing milk.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/kfc-employee-act-civil-administrative-tribunal/104851170


Could ‘criminals for hire’ be behind some antisemitic attacks in Australia? Here’s what we know – 23 January 2025
Federal authorities have confirmed they suspect “criminals for hire” may be responsible for some antisemitic attacks in Australia that have seen synagogues, cars, buildings and a childcare centre targeted with arson, graffiti and vile abuse.
But the question of who might be paying any such alleged criminals, and why they want to target the Jewish community in Australia, remains unanswered as police and intelligence agencies continue to investigate the attacks.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/23/could-criminals-for-hire-be-behind-some-antisemitic-attacks-in-australia-what-we-know-ntwnfb


Domino’s pizza franchisee banned from employing trainees across 12 stores in South Australia – 23 January 2025
A franchisee operating a dozen Domino’s pizza stores in SA has been banned from employing trainees and apprentices. According to the SA government, Team Van Diemen SA Pty Ltd — which operates “over a quarter” of the Domino’s stores in the state — failed to meet training obligations. The SA Skills Commission has anticipated further action against others in the same sector, warning that the practices it had uncovered were common among fast-food operators.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/dominos-pizza-franchisee-banned-from-employing-trainees/104849398


Experts question how accused drug smuggler used fake documents to flee – 23 January 2025
Hussein Chamas, 35, has not been seen for two weeks after absconding from a rehabilitation centre using forged Supreme Court bail documents. An ex-judge and a crime expert say an in-depth investigation is needed into how the documents were forged. Australian Federal Police officers are working with a range of law enforcement agencies to find the fugitive.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/questions-asked-forged-bail-document-used-to-flee-rehab/104850092