A man will appear in court today charged with 118 fraud offences following investigations into alleged fraudulent NSW Government grant applications.
In November 2021, detectives attached to the State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad and all Sydney Metropolitan Regions, established Strike Force Sainsbery to investigate fraudulent applications made against NSW Government financial relief schemes related to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.
Since that time, investigators have laid 1,451 charges against 87 people for allegedly defrauding these schemes. All remain before the courts.
Service NSW Fraud Response Unit is also assisting Strike Force Sainsbery.
As part of ongoing inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 31-year-old man at a correctional facility in Silverwater yesterday (Monday 1 May 2023).
He was charged with 118 offences, including:
- three counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception,
- recklessly deal with proceeds of crime,
- 70 counts of possess identity information to commit indictable offence,
- 14 counts of use false document to obtain financial advantage,
- 22 counts of possess false document to obtain financial advantage,
- seven counts of attempt use false document to obtain advantage, and
- knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
Police will allege these applications were made in his name along with stolen identity information to claim $47,020 worth of COVID-19 grants in September 2021.
He was refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court today (Tuesday 2 May 2023).
Financial Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, said investigations under Strike Force Sainsbery are continuing.
"This should serve as a lesson to anyone who has submitted or is thinking of lodging fraudulent claims – it is only a matter of time before our investigators catch up to you and put you before the courts," Supt Arbinja said.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Sainsbery investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
