Mina Strolla charged after allegedly defrauding victims for Covid repayments
A Sydney man allegedly exploited Covid repayment schemes to defraud almost $50,000 in support payments.
Blacktown
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Parklea man Mina Strolla has been charged by police after allegedly attempting to defraud almost $50,000 in Covid and disaster relief payments.
Strolla, 31, is facing 118 fraud charges after he was arrested yesterday at Silverwater Correctional Complex just after 8am.
No bail application was made on behalf of Strolla no pleas were entered when his matter was listed at Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday.
Police will allege Strolla used the stolen identities of at least 70 victims in an attempt to gain Covid and disaster repayments between September and October, 2021.
The government scheme was introduced to assistant those who had lost employment due to the pandemic.
On multiple occasions, police will allege Strolla attempted to use stolen tax numbers to gain $9000 from victims.
Police allege Strolla provided false statements about his income through Service NSW to profit thousands of dollars.
It’s alleged he submitted stolen licences, tax numbers and birth certificates in an attempt to claim at least $47 thousand in Covid repayments.
Police started investigations into alleged fraudulent NSW Government grant applications in November 2021, establishing Strike Force Sainsbery.
Police have since laid 1,451 charges against 87 people for allegedly defrauding the schemes and all remain before the courts.
The Service NSW Fraud Response Unit is working with Strike Force Sainsbery.
Strolla 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.
Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja with the Financial Crimes Squad Commander said investigations under Strike Force Sainsbery are ongoing.
“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.
Strolla will face court on June 30 at Penrith Local Court for brief status (committal).
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