Alleged tax kingpin arrested

THE alleged mastermind of a billion-dollar tax evasion scheme that embroiled actor Paul Hogan has been arrested in Italy – 13 years after he fled Australia.

Accused tax cheat Philip Jepson Egglishaw was caught by Italian authorities on May 3 after he triggered an Interpol red notice issued by Australian officials for “financial crimes”.

Egglishaw, an accountant and company director, was at the centre of Project Wickenby, a tax evasion probe that led to the convictions of 46 people and collected about $2.2 billion in tax liabilities.

Egglishaw had been living in Switzerland, out of reach of Australian authorities despite the Interpol alert that he was “wanted by the judicial authorities of Australia for prosecution/to serve a sentence”.