Blue Mountains News

31/05/2025

A 14-year-old boy and the two 15-year-old boys were taken to St Mary's Police Station, where detectives attached to Sydney City PAC charged each with robbery armed with an offensive weapon.

SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - A teenage boy has been admitted to hospital, while three younger boys have been arrested, charged, and detained by police. The trio,...

24/05/2025

SYDNEY, Australia - A pharmacist has been charged after allegedly defrauding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) of more than $10 million, leading authorities to seize over $20 million in assets, including a luxury mansion, two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, a McLaren, and seven BMWs

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation in February 2023 following a tip-off from the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Sydney pharmacist charged with fraud | Ben Huynh's $8m super car collection

The 58-year-old man, Ben Huynh of Dural in northern Sydney (picrured left) is accused of making false PBS claims between 2014 and 2023.

As part of the probe, police raided Huynh's home in the Sydney suburb of Dural and a pharmacy in Cabramatta East, also in suburban Sydney. He has since been charged with two counts of dealing in proceeds of crime worth $1 million or more and two counts of dishonesty causing a loss to the Commonwealth. If convicted, Huynh faces up to 25 years in prison for the most serious offences.

The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) later identified multiple high-value assets believed to be purchased with illicit funds. On 22 May 2025, the NSW Supreme Court approved the freezing of the man's assets.

Among the seized items are:

- A luxury mansion in Dural

- A commercial property in East Cabramatta

- 12 high-end vehicles, including two Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, a McLaren, and seven BMWs

- Multiple bank accounts

AFP CACT Commander Jason Kennedy said the crackdown sends a clear message that crime does not pay.

"By stripping offenders of their ill-gotten wealth, we remove the very incentive that drives such crimes," Commander Kennedy said Saturday. "Many criminals fear losing their assets as much as—if not more than—a prison sentence."

The restrained assets will be managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). If the case succeeds, they will be sold, with proceeds going into a fund that supports law enforcement, crime prevention, and drug rehabilitation programs.

The accused pharmacist remains on bail and is due to face court again on 6 June 2025.

02/03/2025

POLICE SEEK PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN BLUE MOUNTAINS FATALITY INVESTIGATION (BlueMountainsNews.Net)

The New South Wales Police Force is appealing for public assistance in their ongoing investigation into a fatal incident that occurred in the Blue Mountains late last year.

At approximately 11 pm on Friday, 20 December 2024, emergency services were called to the intersection of the Great Western Highway and Kitchener Road in Leura, following reports of an unresponsive person on the road. Upon arrival, officers from the Blue Mountains Police Area Command discovered a 51-year-old man with severe head and torso injuries. Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the man was walking between Leura Railway Station and the Great Western Highway near Kitchener Road around 11 pm when he was struck by a vehicle. It is believed that he may have been lying on the ground prior to the collision.

The driver involved—a 50-year-old man—reported to Katoomba Police Station shortly after the incident and underwent mandatory testing at Katoomba Hospital.

As part of their ongoing inquiries, police have released images of the deceased in hopes of gathering information about his movements before the incident. Inspector Jason Hogan from the Crash Investigation Unit emphasized the importance of public assistance, stating, "The man’s family deserve closure, and any information—whether it seems trivial or insignificant—could be the final piece in helping officers find out what happened to him."

Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information about the man's activities between 10:40 pm and 11 pm on Friday, 20 December 2024, to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or visit https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. All information provided will be treated with strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages. (BlueMountainsNews.Net).