Police investigating alleged fraud offences relating to hundreds of speeding infringements and insurance claims have laid additional serious charges following inquiries with US law enforcement.
In a Queensland first, investigators from the Road Policing Investigations Unit (RPIU), charged a 35-year-old man with an offence under the Migration Act 1958 (Cwth), as well as perjury, relating to an alleged forged document.
In 2019 an investigation was launched into alleged incidents of false statutory declarations being submitted for speeding infringement notices as well as vehicles allegedly being registered in false names being involved in more than 400 speeding offences across the South East. Subsequent investigations also led to alleged incidents of motor vehicle insurance fraud.
Following on from this investigation, specialist police from the RPIU ascertained that a man had allegedly fraudulently obtained criminal history clearances from the United States, where he had previously resided, and provided this documentation to Australian authorities as part of his application to stay in Australia.
Investigations included liaison with the FBI and law enforcement in the US state of Texas.
The man was also charged with perjury after he allegedly spoke about and presented the alleged fraudulent criminal history clearance documents in court.
Senior Constable Debbie McDougall, Officer in Charge of the RPIU said it was a protracted and complex investigation spanning more than three years and multiple jurisdictions.
"Our message is clear: It doesn't matter how challenging, how many hurdles we have to overcome, if you commit crime on our roadways, we are determined to bring you to justice," Senior Constable McDougall said.
The Nigerian man has been charged with one count of false documents relating to non-citizen (Migration Act 1958), two counts of forgery and one count of perjury.
He is due to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on February 14.
