Sydney mum in court over alleged NDIS fraud
Boasted texts were allegedly sent between a Sydney mother and her boyfriend who were allegedly part of a family crime ring defrauding millions of dollars from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
NSW
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“We will all get Rolexes when we hit the million.”
This is one of the boastful texts allegedly sent between a Sydney mother and her boyfriend who were allegedly part of a family crime ring defrauding millions of dollars from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Amal Hilmi cried as a Supreme Court judge denied her bail this week, saying her “blatant and deliberate” alleged fleecing of the federal government while pregnant meant she’s likely to be convicted and spend a significant time behind bars.
The 35-year-old was charged in May alongside her partner Alan Rifai, her two younger brothers and another woman with making fake claims from more than 70 disabled Australians who lost access to the money for legitimate health needs.
The accused allegedly set up three NDIS providers in western Sydney to claim subsidies from over-inflated invoices which they then splurged on high-end sports cars, property in Indonesia and luxury watches, the court heard.
Justice Peter Garling said at one point Hilmi and her lover allegedly made promises to hand out Rolex watches as a reward for cheating the NDIS of $1 million and claiming: “it will take about a month.”
In another Whatsapp message exchange, when Hilmi allegedly told her lover she’d rorted more than $59,000, Rifai replied: “good girl, so which car you want?”
The court heard the next day $83,000 was allegedly spent on a Porsche Cayenne, which was seized by police in May alongside an Audi A3 and a Mercedes E6.
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During those Liverpool and Lurnea raids Alhassane Hilmi, his older brother Mostafa Hilmi, and his girlfriend Michelle Ross were also arrested alongside the couple, and their matters were all heard at Central Local Court on Wednesday.
At Hilmi’s bail decision on Tuesday, Justice Garling said the small cash offered as her surety may even be from funds swindled from the commonwealth.
Defence solicitor Simon Joyner said Hilmi has no criminal history and isn’t due to face trial until late 2020, meaning she could stay in custody at Emu Plains jail for up to 18 months.
Being away from her infant son — who has a congenital disorder — for that long would cause the mum considerable distress, he said.
But the judge said the prosecution’s 23-folder brief of evidence is “an overwhelming one”.
Justice Garling added that Hilmi was still breastfeeding while carrying out the scam, meaning unless she irrationally thought she’d never be caught “it must have been obvious to the applicant there would come a time when her crimes were identified that she would be separated from her son.”
The Australian Federal Police have frozen Hilmi’s access to the lavish cars as well as properties in Goulburn, Heckenberg and Broadmeadows in Victoria, the court heard.
But Justice Garling flagged Hilmi as an unacceptable flight risk, noting her bank accounts and the land in Lombok haven’t been restrained.
The defence offered for Hilmi to be placed on effective house arrest with an internet use ban, but the judge said the risk of her committing more fraud with the help of other people was too great.