Amit Gupta is the promoter of Getax, a rock-phosphate company, which now operates as Agrifields DMCC in Dubai, where he resides, alongside his family.
Through his company Getax, Gupta stands accused at the center of a criminal case filed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in February 2020 for bribery of foreign public officials in the Republic of Nauru, with payments exceeding AUD 2.2 million as per court documents.
As per the Sydney Morning Herald, “The US documents name Getax director Amit Gupta as the ‘target of a criminal investigation who is alleged to have conspired with others to bribe foreign public officials and to have engaged in money laundering and other offenses’.”
Statement of Facts:
New revelations, according to the Statement of Facts ‘SOF’ by the Australian Federal Police, have been uncovered, highlighting new information and details regarding the case, including specific details of bribery charges, as well as legally intercepted phone conversations of Amit Gupta, G.S. Gupta, and their family.
As per the documents, Amit Gupta, who is the first-co accused in the criminal investigation, utilized multiple shell companies and proxies he and his family controlled, to bribe 4 Nauruan politicians of approximately AUD2.216 million, between May 2007 and 2012, including “AUD858,080” to former Member of Parliament David Adeang, who recently became the President of Nauru on the 30th October, 2023.
Other names mentioned in the Australian Federal Police’s ‘SOF’ are former President Marcus Stephen, former Nauru Phosphorus Corporation CEO Vinci Clodumar, and Member of Parliament in Nauru Aloysius Clint Amwano.
The ‘SOF’ cites over 381 events that occurred between 2007 and 2012, including bank transfers, intercepted phone conversations, written communications, and movement of funds, across companies in the UAE, Singapore, and Australia.
In 2015, the ABC stated, “Leaked emails show Mr Adeang solicited an additional $665,000 in corrupt payments for himself and other Nauruan politicians from the Australian company, Getax.” and that “those transactions are being examined by the Australian Federal Police as part of a major foreign bribery investigation.” and that “emails reveal a plot to overthrow the Nauru government in 2010.”
According to The Guardian, the AFP’s “investigations over more than a decade resulted in an indictment being laid against Getax.”
Intercepted Transcripts:
In the SOF, the Australian Federal Police “legally intercepted” the phone calls of Amit Gupta and his family members, which revealed more details strengthening the AFP’s case.
In section 323, the AFP “intercepted information” of Amit Gupta speaking to Sushila Gupta on the 16th of January, 2023, at 9:21pm stating the following: “…we don’t have any money that has been earned legally”.
Additionally, Amit Gupta, on 22nd February 2013 at 00:23am, stated on call that: “I was handling all the accounts… I knew all the details of what’s happening” and amidst a tax inquiry, that “I (Amit) literally had a nervous breakdown…” and that his father, G.S. Gupta, said to him, “…Nobody else knows the details. So, as long as you don’t go up to them and tell them what all you have done… Nobody is ever going to come to know about it”, reads the intercepted transcripts.
This investigation lasted many years prior to charges being laid and was aided by, under “Section 3E of the Crimes Act 1914” over 11-executed search warrants across the residences and offices of Getax and linked parties between 18th June 2013 and 22nd January 2016, including the personal residences of G.S. Gupta and Amit Gupta at 6 Cabana Boulevard in Benowa, Gold Coast, Australia per the Statement of Facts.
Conclusion:
With the uncovering the ‘Statement of Facts’ by the Australian Federal Police, which showcases details in the global Getax and Gupta corruption scandal involving bribery and money-laundering offenses, this unfolding story gains further prominence amidst income tax notices and a recently launched FIR by the Kolkata Police on the 22nd December, 2023, against Amit Gupta and Sunland Projects for a “fraudulent share transfer” amongst other claims.
