Cheng Fan, Blacktown: Alleged Eden-Monaro by-election email scammer
The alleged mastermind behind an election email scam has allegedly been found with dozens of fraudulent passports and driver’s licences.
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Federal police have laid dozens of fresh charges on a western Sydney man at the centre of an alleged scam email campaign during last year’s Eden-Monaro by-election.
Cheng Fan, 33, was arrested in July after police raided his Blacktown home, alleging he sent out harassing emails about Labor candidate Kristy McBain.
The emails, which claimed to be from the Catholic Church, were allegedly sent to voters in the state’s south just weeks out from the hotly-contested election.
Police allege the emails falsely stated Ms McBain would be pulling out of the by-election due to being infected by COVID-19, and urged voters to support Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs.
Fan faced Penrith Local Court on Friday and concealed his face with a mask when he was hit with 34 fresh charges.
His initial charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, was withdrawn by the crown prosecutor and replaced with a similar charge.
He faces a new charge of publishing material to mislead or deceive a voter in an election.
Police allege Fan possessed several passports of Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Filipino and Australian residents, with the intention of using them to commit fraud.
It’s further alleged he was found with several NSW driver’s licences to help facilitate other fraudulent activities.
Police allege the offences date back as far as February 2019, with a police investigation into Fan’s phone and internet services allegedly revealing the fraudulent use of the licences and passports.
Fan faces a maximum of five years in jail if convicted.
He is yet to enter a plea to the charges.
He will return to court in June where he is expected to be committed for trial or sentence.
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