Overview
On 13 December 2024, the District Court of NSW sentenced former registered liquidator Peter Andrew Amos to four years in prison, with a two-year non-parole period. Amos pleaded guilty to dishonestly using his position as an external administrator to steal from companies he was appointed to wind up.
What happened
Between 6 October 2016 and 31 December 2022, Amos transferred $2,998,546.59 from five companies he administered into his own insolvency firm, Amos Insolvency Pty Ltd. The funds were spent on unrelated business expenses and personal use.
The five companies involved were:
- Mikcon Employment Services Pty Ltd
- TPC (Vic) Pty Ltd
- P O W 4X4 Pty Ltd
- A-Force Electrics Pty Ltd
- Conomi Group Pty Ltd
All approved remuneration for Amos's work on those administrations had already been paid. No additional payment had been approved by creditors of those companies.
Consequences for Amos
As a result of the sentencing and related proceedings:
- Amos is no longer a registered liquidator.
- Amos is disqualified from managing corporations for five years after his release.
- Amos cannot accept any further appointments as an external administrator.
How the case was brought
The case was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions following an ASIC investigation. The investigation was conducted as part of the ATO-led Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.
Key actions
- If a business is currently in administration or liquidation, the relevant parties can ask the insolvency practitioner for a copy of all creditor-approved remuneration determinations and check that any transfers from company accounts match those approvals.
- Creditors of any company previously administered by Amos Insolvency Pty Ltd who believe funds may have been misappropriated can contact ASIC directly via asic.gov.au.
- Further information on the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce is available at ato.gov.au/SFCT.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.