Willetton man accused of trying to fraudulently transfer $1million into his bank account

7 hours ago 4

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A 39-year-old Willetton man has been caught allegedly trying to transfer $1million from a company to his own bank account while already on bail for alleged similar offending.

Benjamin Paul Travia, 39, was denied bail the second time round by a Perth magistrate on Wednesday after a police prosecutor told the court the case against him was “extremely strong” and included CCTV footage at a business premises and electronic evidence.

Travia was arrested on Tuesday by the financial crimes squad and slapped with more than 70 charges of obtaining benefit by fraud.

Police allege Travia fraudulently established lines of credit at three separate businesses between August 2024 and April 2025, resulting in goods totalling more than $500,000 being charged to a company he had no association with.

The items allegedly included shopping containers, an assortment of power and hand tools and air-conditioning units and parts, police said.

“In April 2025, the company became aware of the alleged fraudulent transactions against their account and lodged a dispute claim with their bank,” WA Police said in a statement on Wednesday.

Two months later, Travia allegedly tried to transfer $1 million into his account from the same company but was intercepted by police.

During his bail application on Wednesday, the court was told Travia was unemployed and had recently been evicted from his house, with prosecutors adding “he has no source of income other than his criminal activities”.

Travia’s lawyer Paul Holmes tried to argue for his release by saying his client had an injury he was waiting for hospital admission for and that he had an unconfirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia and depression.

But magistrate Gavin Mclean noted Travia was “someone with a pretty bad record for fraud type offending” and said he was concerned that the behaviour would continue if he was granted bail again.

His bail was refused, prompting Travia to repeatedly try and speak to the magistrate, stating that he can “prove it right now” and “I implore you to listen to reason here”, before adding “it’s a requirement of the court, you’re supposed to protect me”.

Travia will be back before the court August 13.