Caratti probe puts deals in spotlight
Australian Federal Police officers are set to examine some of the State's biggest land development ventures as they probe the financial affairs of companies linked to businessman Allen Caratti and his partner Tina Bazzo.
In a joint investigation with the Australian Taxation Office, Federal police officers have seized dozens of boxes of documents as they study dealings related to Caratti-linked developments across metropolitan Perth.
Police have been searching for documents from close associates of Mr Caratti and Ms Bazzo as well as from companies that have sold more than $140 million of land in this decade alone.
It is understood that Mr Caratti and Ms Bazzo have denied any impropriety.
In obtaining search and document seizure warrants, Federal police have questioned the income tax and GST pay- ment records of Piara Waters residential lot developer Whitby Land Co, Southern River dev- eloper Gucce Holdings and Wangara industrial land company Starbrake.
One source said the investigators were examining the tax treatment of a once-prominent pile of sand in Wangara that was sold by Starbrake Pty Ltd in 2008 before the underlying land was developed.
The probe is also understood to include dealings with contractors and with major piping supply group Rocla.
More than 40 Federal police and tax officials took part in raids on Wednesday at neighbouring office buildings used by Mr Caratti and Ms Bazzo, and were still seizing documents on Friday afternoon.
Police officers also executed a search warrant on Mr Caratti and Ms Bazzo's Applecross mansion on Wednesday.
The couple has formed arguably Perth's most prolific land development partnership over the past decade, with projects and land deals also in Hocking, Wanneroo, Gwelup, Canning Vale and Aveley.
The Federal police have also sought information about Aveley residential land development company Forest Hope Pty Ltd, which has sold more than $20 million of land this decade.
However, police have not suggested any problems with its tax-paying record in documents seen by _WestBusiness _.
Tax dealings by Mr Caratti's flagship company Mammoth Nominees in 2008 are under scrutiny.
Police are examining the claiming of GST tax inputs by Bazzo-directed Gucce Holdings, which has been a prolific developer and seller of land over the past five years.
Tax office and Federal police representatives said they did not comment about ongoing inquiries.
