ABC Australia
In short:
Former Canberra criminal lawyer Ben Aulich has been committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court for allegedly conspiring to launder money and recruiting others to commit a crime.
Mr Aulich and his co-accused, accountant Michael Papendrea, allegedly talked with an undercover police officer about setting up a supermarket to help launder money from illegal cigarette sales.
What’s next?
Magistrate Sean Richter found that there was enough evidence to commit Mr Aulich’s case for trial, and both men will be back in court later in the year.
Former prominent Canberra criminal lawyer Ben Aulich has been committed for trial in the ACT Supreme Court, along with his co-accused accountant Michael Papandrea, on charges of conspiracy to launder money.
Mr Aulich and Mr Panpandrea were arrested in 2020 as police descended on Mr Aulich’s city office, another office in Kingston, and a Queanbeyan shop.
Mr Aulich is also facing a charge of recruiting others to commit a crime.
The case has dragged on for nearly four years, as the men fought to have the charges tossed out by the ACT Magistrates Court.
Today that came to an end.
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