Australian drug dealer gets tax break

PERTH, Australia, June 6 (UPI) -- An Australian court ruled Friday that Francesco Dominico La Rosa, a convicted drug dealer, could claim a tax deduction for money lost during a drug raid.

The Australian Tax Office had overestimated La Rosa's 1994-95 income at $300,000. But almost half of that had been stolen from the heroin dealer in an unsuccessful drug raid in 1995.

The tax office argued that public policy does not allow a deduction for stolen money, but it did so to no avail.

According to the BBC, La Rosa said he deserved the deduction because the money was lost in a business dealing.

The Perth native commented if his business profits are taxed losses also should be accounted for.