Townsville bullfighter Darryl Chong locked up after falsely claiming $29K in government benefits

A North Queensland bullfighter who fraudulently pocketed almost $30K in unemployment benefits was busted working six jobs and earning six figures over two years.

A North Queensland bullfighter who fraudulently pocketed almost $30,000 in unemployment benefits was busted working six jobs and earning six figures over two years.

Darryl Chong, 37, will spend the next three months in jail after he was on Tuesday sentenced to 12 months jail by Magistrate Viviana Keegan.

He had pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court to eight counts of using a forged document to induce a commonwealth official, and one count of obtain financial advantage for self.

The court heard that between 2019 and 2020, Chong claimed $29,746.33 in Jobseeker and Newstart allowances.

But the whole time, Chong had been working full time for six employers, and had earned a gross total of $149,910.73 during that time.

Darryl Chong falsely claimed almost $30k in government benefits over two years.

During that time, he also forged eight doctors notes citing various reasons as to why he could not provide activity tests to the department.

Chong used the name of a real doctor working out of a Townsville medical centre, despite never having been a patient there.

He claimed mental health issues, as well as a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevented him from reporting.

In June 2020, Chong told Services Australia he had found full-time work and cancelled his benefits.

Commonwealth prosecutor Chris Moore told the court that Chong’s deception started just three months after he was ordered into an 18 month good behaviour bond over a using a carriage service to menace, harass and cause offence charge.

Mr Moore said Chong had since repaid the full amount.

Darryl Chong was under

Defence barrister Claire Grant said Chong lost control of his life after being falsely accused of raping a child in 2014, and the death of his unborn child.

While the accusation was found to be false, Ms Grant said Chong’s mental health suffered because of both events, and he started using methylamphetamine.

It was heard there was no evidence of Chong living an “extravagant lifestyle” during the offending, and that he claimed the funds because he had been in debt to his parents and was paying a mortgage.

“He is embarrassed, remorseful and contrite – he has done all he can to right his wrongs,” Ms Grant said.

She said Chong, a champion bullfighter, had also worked at charity rodeos to help drought-affected communities.

Chong was ordered to serve three months of a 12 month head sentence.

He will be released into a 12 month, $1000 good behaviour bond.

Originally published as Townsville bullfighter Darryl Chong locked up after falsely claiming $29K in government benefits