Ex-cop in NSW steals family gold, gambles with money

• A man who worked as a police officer in New South Wales is suspected of stealing gold worth AU$1.36m
• The suspect, affected by problem gambling, allegedly stole the gold, sold it to traders and used the money for gambling
• Investigation uncovered that a dozen gold bars were sold by the suspect in less than two years

A former police officer in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, is in hot water after engaging in what is suspected as "serious misconduct."

The ex-police officer, pushed by problem gambling, allegedly stole and gambled away gold belonging to one of his relatives and he is now facing charges related to larceny and money laundering.

The suspect is facing a range of charges

The criminal case involves a 32-year-old former NSW Police Force officer.

NSW's independent police oversight body, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), disclosed details regarding the criminal case that was recently referred to the Public Prosecutions director.

The suspect was questioned by law enforcement. Referred to in the LECC's report as "Officer DAR," the man is accused of stealing a dozen gold bars from underneath his mother's home.

Subsequently, the suspect allegedly sold the gold bars to gold bullion dealers, taking approximately AU$1.36m, which he then gambled away.

"To be serious misconduct, the act of a police officer must be one that could result in prosecution for a serious offence, or lead to serious disciplinary action," the report into the crime reads.

Moreover, the paper reveals: "The repeated actions of Officer DAR removing gold bars from under the house and gambling away the proceeds from their sale, thereby permanently depriving the owner, RAD2 (the brother of the former officer's father), of the gold, may constitute the offence of larceny contrary to s 117 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)."

Per the same report, Officer DAR is facing charges for alleged violations of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006.

Those are related to the provision of false or misleading information and the completion of transactions to "avoid reporting requirements relating to threshold transactions."

A dozen gold bars worth AU$1.36m were sold to traders

According to the LECC's document, the gold bullion belonged to the brother of the suspect's father.

After Officer DAR's father had passed away, the gold bars had to be inherited by his brother.

However, the golden bars, hidden in a plastic box underneath the family house, were allegedly found by the suspect.

An investigation uncovered that Officer DAR sold a dozen gold bars between February 2021 and December 2022.

Visiting one gold bullion trader, the suspect allegedly sold seven gold bars on five different occasions between February 10, 2021, and November 6, 2021, and collected AU$780,991.

Then, five more gold bars were sold between February 10, 2022, and December 13, 2022, on five occasions. Officer DAR allegedly received $580,170 for those gold bars.

According to the suspect's mother, who was interviewed by law enforcement, her son's interest in gambling dated back to when he was 18 or 19 years old.

It is yet to be seen what penalty the 32-year-old man may face for his crimes.

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