Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
the adviser logo
Broker

ASIC permanently bans mortgage broker

by James Mitchell9 minute read
ASIC permanently bans mortgage broker

ASIC has permanently banned a former Perth-based finance broker from engaging in credit activities.

ASIC found that Mr Paul Cheaib engaged in misleading conduct by providing false income supporting documents to Westpac Banking Corporation Limited in support of home loan applications for three of his clients in 2015. Only one of the three loan applications was approved.

At the time, Mr Cheaib was operating his own finance broking business through his own credit licence under the trading name Active Approvals. Mr Cheaib's credit licence was cancelled in April 2016 at his request.

ASIC deputy chairman Peter Kell said the banning reinforces the strong message to any broker considering engaging in misleading conduct.

==
==

“ASIC will not hesitate to permanently remove those who engage in misleading conduct from the industry,” Mr Kell said.

Mr Cheaib has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC's decision.

Since becoming the national regulator of consumer credit on 1 July 2010, ASIC has investigated in excess of 100 matters relating to loan fraud and has achieved many enforcement outcomes against the offenders.

The outcomes range from undertakings by persons to voluntarily leave the industry, to bans and prosecutions. To date, ASIC has banned, suspended or placed conditions of the licence of 77 individuals or companies from providing credit services (including 33 permanent bans).

Through the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, ASIC has also brought criminal prosecutions against 14 credit service providers; with 12 having been convicted of fraud or dishonesty offences relating to the provision of false and misleading information/documents to lenders in client loan applications.

banned  x

James Mitchell

AUTHOR

James Mitchell has over eight years’ experience as a financial reporter and is the editor of Wealth and Wellness at Momentum Media.

He has a sound pedigree to cover the business of mortgages and the converging financial services sector having reported for leading finance titles InvestorDaily, InvestorWeekly, Accountants Daily, ifa, Mortgage Business, Residential Property Manager, Real Estate Business, SMSF Adviser, Smart Property Investment, and The Adviser.

He has also been published in The Daily Telegraph and contributed online to FST Media and Mergermarket, part of the Financial Times Group.

James holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and an MA in Journalism.

 

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member for free today!
magazine
Read the latest issue of The Adviser magazine!
The Adviser is the number one magazine for Australia's finance and mortgage brokers. The publications delivers news, analysis, business intelligence, sales and marketing strategies, research and key target reports to an audience of professional mortgage and finance brokers
Read more