It was the phone call that revealed to Michael Cranston that his son Adam could be in serious trouble and would help to end his own prestigious career.
Adam had just revealed to him that the Australian Taxation Office, where Michael Cranston was a deputy commissioner, was chasing him for $45 million in unpaid tax.
Soon after the revelation an unwell and somewhat panicked Michael said he had to get off the call as he was “really sick (and) starting to get dizzy”.
Listen to the phone call and the full explosive contents at dailytelegraph.com.au
It was one of the explosive moments of the call which have been revealed by the Saturday Telegraph, including a recording of the conversation.
The call was played in evidence during the 2019 trial in the Sydney District Court where Michael was found not guilty by a jury of misusing his position as a senior public official to help his son Adam Cranston.
The conversation can now be revealed after Adam was this week found guilty of tax fraud along with lawyer Dev Menon and ex professional snowboarder Jason Onley.
The trio were found guilty of siphoning $105 million through a free payroll service known as Plutus Payroll and a collection of shelf companies. They now face a maximum 25 years jail after being convicted of conspiring to cause a loss to the Commonwealth and dealing with the proceeds of crime. They will be sentenced at a later date.
Cranston used the millions to buy properties in Sydney’s south and the Hunter Valley plus multiple luxury cars while Onley shelled out for a property in Vaucluse, the trial was told.
At the time of the call, Adam never considered that his actions would end his dad’s career at the ATO and result in him being charged by police. It took Michael two years to clear his name.
Michael had been battling the flu for days and his son sent his mental state off a cliff by telling his father the ATO was pursuing his company, Plutus Payroll, for $45 million.
Listening to Adam’s explanation on the call, Michael assumed his son’s company, Plutus, was being pursued by the ATO for far less than the actual amount.
The reality knocked him for six.
“So if you lose, what do you lose? Plutus is up for $4 million?,” Michael asked Adam.
The figure was wrong.
“No, they’re hitting us for 45,” Adam said.
Michael paused for a moment.
“$45 million?,” Michael said, astounded by the size of the figure. What his son had just confided in him would land Michael on the front page of every newspaper in Australia and led to him resigning from the ATO.
Soon after Michael, who had been suffering from the flu at the time, had to end the call.
“Addy, I’m really sick mate. I’m starting to get dizzy,” he said as he ended the call.
The net was closing around Adam and now has him facing decades in prison.
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