Kuol Mawien Koul of Shepparton appeared at the bail and remand court at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after being arrested and charged by the Gang Crime Squad on July 28.
Court documents reveal he is charged with 38 offences relating to more than $100,000 in funds between November 2020 and February 2021.
Kuol is charged with theft and deception in relation to the transfer of money from the account of one alleged victim on November 10 ($30,000), November 25 ($2500), November 27 (2000), December 4 ($9200), December 18 ($5000), December 24 ($5000), and December 31 (5000).
Another charge relates to $28,200 allegedly withdrawn from a term deposit on January 5.
These offences all allegedly took place in Kyabram. Some of the money was allegedly deposited into Kuol’s own bank account but most was transferred to the accounts or two other people.
The Shepparton offences include more alleged instanced of monies being transferred from bank accounts to other parties, and one theft charge alleging Kuol purported to deposit cash from a local business but did not.
Kuol appeared in custody via video link but his planned bail application was abandoned when his lawyer Aaron Edlestien did not appear.
“If he’s not there I am going to have to adjourn the matter,” Magistrate Ross Maxted said.
When Mr Edlestien joined the hearing 10 minutes later the magistrate said he had another pressing matter and would not have time to hear the bail application given the volume of charges and the extensive summary.
“It will take at least 40 minutes or more to read the prosecution summary,” he said.
Kuol sat with his head buried in his hands when he realised he would remain in custody.
Kuol was remanded in custody to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on September 23 when the bail application will proceed. Police have filed an application to revoke his current bail on existing unrelated charges.
The case has also been set down for a committal mention on October 26.
