Section 400.6 Criminal Code Act 1995
Dealing in Proceeds of Crime $10,000 or more

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Intentionally dealing in proceeds of crime – $10,000 or more is an offence under section 400.6(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:

  1. You dealt with money or other property
  2. The money or property was, and you believed it was, the proceeds of crime, or you intended for it to become an instrument of crime, and
  3. The value of the money and/or property was $10,000 or more.

You ‘dealt with’ money or property if you:

  1. Received, possessed, concealed or disposed of it
  2. Imported it into, or exported it from, Australia, or
  3. Engaged in a banking transaction relating to it.

‘Importing’ or ‘exporting’ includes transferring by electronic communication.

‘Property’ means real or personal property of any description, whether in Australia or elsewhere, whether tangible or intangible, including any interest in the property.

The definition encompasses financial instruments, cards and other objects that represent or can be exchanged for money.

‘Proceeds of crime’ means wholly or partly derived or realised, directly or indirectly, by any person from the commission of an offence against the Commonwealth, a State or Territory, or a foreign country, that may be dealt with as an indictable offence.

An ‘indictable offence’ is one which may be dealt with in a higher court such as the District or Supreme Court.

An ‘instrument of crime’ is money or property used in the commission of, or to facilitate the commission of, an offence against the Commonwealth, a State or Territory, or a foreign country, that may be dealt with as an indictable offence.

You are not guilty of the offence if you are able to establish ‘on the balance of probabilities’ that you mistakenly but reasonably believed the value of the money or property was less than $10,000. In that event, you may be found guilty of an alternative, less-serious offence.

Duress is a defence to the charge.


Recklessly dealing in proceeds of crime – $10,000 or more is an offence under section 400.6(2) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:

  1. You dealt with money or other property
  2. The money or property was the proceeds of crime, or there was a risk it would become an instrument of crime
  3. You were reckless as to whether the money or property was the proceeds of crime or would become an instrument of crime, and
  4. The value of the money and/or property was $10,000 or more.

You ‘dealt with’ money or property if you:

  1. Received, possessed, concealed or disposed of it
  2. Imported it into, or exported it from, Australia, or
  3. Engaged in a banking transaction relating to it.

‘Importing’ or ‘exporting’ includes transferring by electronic communication.

‘Property’ means real or personal property of any description, including any interest in the property.

The definition encompasses financial instruments, cards and other objects that represent or can be exchanged for money.

‘Proceeds of crime’ means wholly or partly derived or realised, directly or indirectly, by any person from the commission of an offence against the Commonwealth, a State or Territory, or a foreign country, that may be dealt with as an indictable offence.

An ‘indictable offence’ is one which may be dealt with in a higher court such as the District or Supreme Court.

An ‘instrument of crime’ is money or property used in the commission of, or to facilitate the commission of, an offence against the Commonwealth, a State or Territory, or a foreign country, that may be dealt with as an indictable offence.

You were ‘reckless’ if you were aware there was a substantial risk that the money or property was the proceeds of crime, or that there was a risk it would become an instrument of crime and it was unjustifiable to take that risk but you went ahead with your actions regardless.

You are not guilty of the offence if you are able to establish ‘on the balance of probabilities’ that you mistakenly but reasonably believed the value of the money or property was less than $10,000.

In that event, you may be found guilty of an alternative, less-serious offence.

Duress is a defence to the charge.

If you require Expert Legal Advice from an Experienced Criminal Defence Lawyer for your Dealing in Proceeds of Crime $10,000 or more matter, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers® today on (02) 9261 8881.

The Legislation

Section 400.6 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) is Dealing in Proceeds of Crime $10,000 or more and is extracted below.

If you require Expert Legal Advice from an Experienced Criminal Defence Lawyer for your Dealing in Proceeds of Crime $10,000 or more matter, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers® today on (02) 9261 8881.

400.6 Dealing in proceeds of crime etc.—money or property worth $10,000 or more

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person deals with money or other property; and
(b) either:
(i) the money or property is, and the person believes it to be, proceeds of crime; or
(ii) the person intends that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and
(c) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $10,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years, or 600 penalty units, or both.

(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person deals with money or other property; and
(b) either:
(i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or
(ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and
(c) the person is reckless as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and
(d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $10,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years, or 300 penalty units, or both.

(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person deals with money or other property; and
(b) either:
(i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or
(ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and
(c) the person is negligent as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and
(d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $10,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years, or 120 penalty units, or both.

(4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c), (2)(d) and (3)(d).

Note 1:    Section 400.10 provides for a defence of mistake of fact in relation to these paragraphs.

Note 2:    Section 400.2A affects the application of this section so far as it relates to a person dealing with money or other property that:

(a) is intended by the person to become an instrument of crime; or
(b) is at risk of becoming an instrument of crime.

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    If you are going to court and wish to arrange a free first consultation, call our 24 hour hotline on (02) 9261 8881 or send us an email at info@sydneycriminallawyers.com.au.

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