October 31st 2024.
Three individuals have been sentenced to a combined 12 years in jail for their involvement in a major fraud scheme targeting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Australian Tax Office (ATO). The Australian Federal Police (AFP) revealed that their investigation, codenamed Operation Pegasus, uncovered a staggering amount of evidence, including eight kilograms of gold bullion valued at $600,000, a large sum of cash, and over $630,000 in cryptocurrency.
The syndicate, which was operating across three companies based in western Sydney, was found to have defrauded the NDIS of millions of dollars through false claims and also made fraudulent claims for GST refunds from the ATO. The AFP also discovered that some of the claims were made using fabricated medical reports for individuals who did not actually have a disability. The funds obtained through these fraudulent activities were then used for personal gain.
In April 2021, after months of investigation, the AFP arrested five men and one woman in connection with the fraud syndicate. Yesterday, two of the men and the woman were sentenced in Sydney Central District Court and ordered to repay the Commonwealth over $575,000. A 38-year-old man from Lidcombe received a sentence of six years and six months, with a non-parole period of four years, after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiring to obtain a gain from the Commonwealth and one count of dealing with proceeds of crime. A 41-year-old man from Ryde was sentenced to two years and 11 months, to be released on a good behaviour bond after 12 months. A 33-year-old woman from Lakemba received a sentence of three years and five months, with a non-parole period of 17 months, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain a gain from the Commonwealth.
Two other men involved in the fraud were sentenced in 2022, and one man from Chester Hill remains before the courts. NDIS Minister Bill Shorten expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating that "the days of viewing the NDIS as a government honeypot are well and truly over." He emphasized the severity of the crime, stating that defrauding individuals with disabilities and taxpayers is a despicable act.
NDIS chief executive Rebecca Falkingham also acknowledged the need for more measures to prevent and respond to fraud, promising to take action through the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, which was established in November 2022 and involves 21 government agencies. Anthony Helmond, acting national manager in law enforcement and industry for the Australian financial intelligence unit AUSTRAC, highlighted the agency's role in identifying and tracking fraudulent activities. In this case, their analysis of financial transactions helped the police in making arrests and gathering evidence against the criminals.
ATO acting deputy commissioner Jade Hawkins issued a warning to anyone considering engaging in fraudulent activities, stating that it is only a matter of time before they are caught. She also encouraged people to follow their WhatsApp channel to stay updated on the latest breaking news, celebrity updates, and sports news without any comments or algorithms.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
