A Sydney woman appeared before Downing Centre Local Court yesterday (6 May, 2025) charged after allegedly spending $49,000 in public monies to fund multiple personal trips.
She was granted conditional bail and is due to re-appear before the same court on 2 July, 2025.
Investigations began in June, 2024, after the AFP received a report regarding a government employee who allegedly used public monies to pay for personal travel over 14 months.
It's alleged the woman used public funds to pay for multiple flights and accommodation in connection with four personal trips overseas, costing about $49,000
It's also alleged she used a falsified visa letter to support her claim that she was travelling for work and arranged a false document for a foreign national to obtain a visa for entry into Australia.
AFP officers executed a search warrant at the woman's home in December, 2024.
The woman was charged with:
One count of dishonestly obtaining a gain from a Commonwealth entity, contrary to section 135.1(1)of the Criminal Code (Cth);
One count of abuse of public office, contrary to section 142.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
One count of deliver a document that is false or misleading to a material particular in connexion with the proposed entry of a non-citizen into Australia with an application for a visa, contrary to section 234(1)(c) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).
