The 39-year-old Ulladulla man was arrested on Sunday by officers from the Shoalhaven Local Area Command for alleged common assault and intimidation offences.

The man – who was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for major fraud offences – was taken to Nowra Police Station and charged with numerous offences, including common assault, using intimidation/violence to unlawfully influence a person, and recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime charge was laid by detectives from State Crime Command’s Fraud and Cybercrime Squad, and related to the man’s alleged involvement in defrauding a bank out of $4.92 million.

Bail was refused, and the man appeared in Nowra Local Court on Monday, when he was again refused bail to next appear on December 2.

Inquiries are being led by Strike Force McMaster, a fraud and cybercrime squad investigating alleged mortgage and equipment finance fraud, whereby a number of dummy companies were set up and fake invoices were used to obtain finance.

Strike Force McMaster investigators have charged 21 people with a total of 381 offences for frauds with a combined value in excess of $36 million.

The Commander of the Fraud and Cybercrime Squad, Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, commended Strike Force McMaster detectives for their work.

“This has been a long and complex criminal investigation, but the detectives working the case have been unyielding in their effort,” Detective Superintendent Katsogiannis said.

“More than 20 people have been arrested and more than 380 charges have been laid, and yet we’re still not done.

“The officers managing Strike Force McMaster are committed to tracking down and charging anyone who was involved in these fraud offences, and we expect to make even more arrests.”