Kishan Narayan charged with 201 fraud offences

A man from Sydney’s west was charged with more than 200 offences after allegedly using dozens of people’s stolen details to claim $154,000 in government grants, a court has heard.

A western Sydney father-to-be allegedly used 62 people’s stolen personal details to fraudulently obtain more than $150,000 in government grants, a court has heard.

Kishan Narayan, 29, appeared at Penrith Local Court via audiovisual link charged with 197 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, two counts of dealing with identification to commit or facilitate the commission of indictable offences, one count of dealing with proceeds of indictable crime and dishonestly opening a mail receptacle.

Narayan is arrested by Strike Force Whiteley at Tregear. Picture: NSW Police

Police will allege Narayan, and co-accused Sailosi Tunidou Vatubua, 30, used stolen identities to buy phones and cars allegedly linked to organised criminal networks, and make fraudulent applications for government assistance money.

In court documents, police allege Narayan used the Centrelink accounts of 62 different people to apply for Covid and natural disaster assistance as well as disability support payments, totalling $152,000.

The fraudulent funds were then allegedly deposited into both Narayan’s personal bank account and accounts he had taken out under other people’s names.

Narayan was arrested at a Tregear house on Tuesday following an investigation by NSW Financial Crimes Squad into the alleged identity theft.

On the same day Vatubua, was arrested at a Macquarie Park unit block and charged with 124 offences including knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, dealing with and possessing identity information to commit an indictable offence, knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, and using a false document to obtain property.

Search warrants executed at both properties led to electronics, credit cards, ID cards, hologram stickers and more than $10,000 in cash being seized

Narayan is arrested by Strike Force Whiteley at Tregear. Picture: NSW Police

In addition, Narayan is also facing a string of prior charges from an arrest in June, including three counts of possessing identity information to commit an indictable offence, dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence and possessing software to make identity information available.

It is alleged Narayan had in his possession the tax file numbers, phone, addresses and bank account details of 74 separate people, as well as softwares used to wipe, create and clone credit cards.

Narayan has pleaded guilty to one count of possessing identity information to commit an indictable offence, and not guilty to the other four charges, which he intends to fight at a hearing at Mt Druitt Local Court on May 16.

On Friday a police prosecutor argued Narayan should remain in custody given the “enormous amount of offences” he is charged with, and the “vast amounts of money” he had access to.

“The accused is charged with an enormous amount of offences and police are expecting many more, and this is just in the two days since the search warrant was executed,” the prosecutor said

A defence lawyer argued Narayan should be granted bail to allow him to support his pregnant wife.

This reasoning was not accepted by Magistrate George Breton, who said while Narayan’s absence may present difficulty for his pregnant partner, it had to be balanced against his alleged offending, which was “deliberate, continued and clearly criminal”.

“The inference is him being part of a scheme of some description, in which he has access to large amounts of money,” Mr Breton said.

“It is a set of facts which presents a strong and overwhelming case.”

Bail was also revoked in Narayan’s Mt Druitt matter.

Narayan will remain in custody on remand and will return to Penrith Court on February 9.

Sailosi Tunidou Vatubua will also be held on remand and will return to Downing Centre Local Court on February 8.