Free Women's Blog

Paul Hogan (70) star of Crocodile Dundee is happy over the fact that Australian officials have dropped a criminal investigation into Hogan’s tax dealings. The ACC has now confirmed it.

The ACC has been investigating Hogan since 2005. Australian Crime Commission Chief Executive John Lawler said on Tuesday (Nov. 23, 2010) that detectives will no longer pursue the case of “insufficient prospects of securing convictions”.

Andrew Robinson, Hogan’s lawyer admitted the end of the criminal probe had provided his client with “immense relief”.

“After nearly six years of massively costly investigations, during which our clients have been routinely branded in the local and international press as tax cheats and tax criminals, the news that the ACC has acknowledged that it does not have the basis to continue with a criminal investigation is of immense relief to them,” Mr Robinson said.

The ATO bosses however are still pursuing Hogan over his tax bill – even though the actor admitted that he couldn’t pay even 10% of the amount.

Paul Hogan, the Crocodile Dundee star is free to return to his US home as Australian tax officials lifted his travel ban.

Hogan, 70, – in a clash over a tax bill rumored to run into millions of dollars – was not allowed to leave Australia last month after his mother’s funeral.

According to Andrew Robinson, the actor was allowed to go back tot his family in the US, after reaching an agreement with the Australian Tax Office.

“While the (tax) commissioner and Mr Hogan remain in dispute on more general taxation issues, Mr Hogan continues to protest his innocence and denies any wrongdoing,” Robinson said in a statement.

The veteran actor, living in LA with his wife Linda Kozlowski – had been shocked to be served with a travel prohibition order after flying back to Australia to attend the funerals of his mother in the middle of August.

Hogan has been is dispute with Australian officials over his tax affairs for about five years, and he reportedly faces bills on $33 million US of supposedly undeclared income.

He became a celebrity in Australia with “The Paul Hogan Show” in the 1970s, but rose to global fame and substantial wealth with the hit Crocodile Dundee (1986), also starring in Crocodile Dundee II and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles.