THE head of a collapsed Brooklyn trucking company fleeced more than $33 million from the Commonwealth Bank, a court has heard.
Former Viking Group of Companies director Steve Iliopoulos, 52, of Point Cook, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court last Wednesday charged with three counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception totalling $33.55 million.
He was also charged with one count of attempting to obtain financial advantage by deception and is accused of allegedly trying to receive $53 million from Westpac to refinance the Viking group.
Police allege that Iliopoulos used false documents and financial information to secure a loan of $12.15 million from the Commonwealth Bank in October 2009.
He is accused of using further false documents to secure additional loans of $17.4 million and $4 million in September and October the following year. The Viking Group was placed into liquidation in 2011.
The court heard the group was made up of more than 20 transport, service and heavy haulage companies at the time of its collapse.
Detective Senior Constable Mark Homberg told the court that Iliopoulos should be refused bail because police considered him to be a flight risk. It was argued that Iliopoulos’s knowledge of the transport industry could help him flee Australia.
His lawyer, Daniel Porceddu, said this was speculation. He said his client would vigorously defend the charges.
Magistrate Peter Reardon refused bail and remanded Iliopoulos to reappear for a committal hearing in July.
