Police are alleging a Pakistani national assumed identities of over 30 people, including renowned Indian classical musician Late Pandit Ravi Shankar, to obtain $500,000 on fraudulent credit cards with bank loans.
The police claim another name among the identities used by the accused to fraudulently procure credit cards was of well-known Indian motivational speaker Rahul Kapoor who is famous for his talks on peak performance, teamwork and relationships.
33-year-old international student Luqman Asghar was arrested at the Perth airport on 25th September.
When Mr Asghar appeared in the Brisbane Magistrate’s court on Monday morning, the police opposed his bail alleging he and a co-accused assumed approximately 30 or more identities to obtain $500,000 on fraudulent credit cards, reported.
It was alleged during the bail hearing that the accused forged documents to support his lavish lifestyle in Australia while on a student visa.
Senior Constable Barry McCauliffe told the court Asghar had been “paying for his lifestyle by obtaining credit cards in other people’s names”.
Indian classical musician Pandit Ravi Shankar. Source: Facebook
Mr Asghar has been charged with one count of using a thing to forge a document and one count of obtaining or dealing with identification information with the purpose of commission of an indictable offence.
The co-accused, a New Zealand national has been charged with three counts of forgery, one count of using a thing to forge a document and one count of obtaining or dealing with identification information.
The police opposed Mr Asghar’s bail saying he is likely to commit further offences and could remotely destroy evidence in his computer which may reveal more information on identities used by him.
Police said he was "attempting to board a flight overseas" when he was arrested last month and claimed to have recovered a credit card and a forged Victorian drivers licence and two Pakistani passports with different names from Mr Asghar’s luggage.
Police informed the court that Mr Asghar is also expected to be charged with money laundering, impersonation, forgery and fraud upon a search of his computer.
He was remanded in custody and is due in court on Friday, October 6.
