Emily Welsh, Charlene Gatt, Manbir Rooprai, Richard Kennedy in Kempsey court on alleged NDIS fraud

A fourth person has been charged in relation to alleged NDIS fraud targeting vulnerable people on the Mid-North Coast, with police alleging one of the accused netted more than $1m from the scheme.

Charlene Gatt and Emily Suzanne Welsh at Kempsey Local Court on Thursday April 10.

A fourth person has now been charged in relation to alleged NDIS fraud targeting vulnerable people on the Mid-North Coast with police alleging one of the accused netted more than $1m from the scheme.

Emily Suzanne Welsh from South West Rocks was arrested on March 26, about a week after her co-accused Manbir Rooprai and couple Richard Kennedy and Charlene Gatt.

Welsh, 35, is charged with attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain and has been granted bail on the conditions she does not have any contact with the co-accused and reports to police three times a week.

According to court documents she allegedly created fraudulent invoices for services not provided by Your Future Support Services Pty LTD.

Also in Kempsey Local Court on Thursday was Charlene Gatt, who successfully applied to have her bail conditions changed so she could live in Lake Illawarra and report to police there every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Charlene Gatt at Kempsey Local Court.

Gatt, 32, is charged with attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain.

The alleged swindle was halted by police following a co-ordinated investigation and subsequent raids as part of Strike Force Mount.

Emily Suzanne Welsh leaves Kempsey Local Court on Thursday, April 10, 2025 on bail for dishonestly intending to obtain financial advantage through the NDIS system.

The strike force was established by the Mid-North Coast Police District and NDIS investigators in November 2024, following reports of fraud through an unregistered support services provider in the region.

Following months of inquiries, police – with assistance from NDIA investigators, Australian Federal Police, and Services Australia – raided properties in South West Rocks, Arakoon, and Sydney.

During the searches, investigators allegedly found and seized several documents, records, and electronic storage devices.

Kennedy, 36, was charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime in excess of $1m, three counts of dishonest intent to obtain a gain, and attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain.

He was also hit with eight separate charges including reckless grievous bodily harm, larceny, using an offensive weapon to commit an indictable offence, and two other assault charges.

Rooprai, 32, was charged with four counts of dishonest intent to obtain a gain, and two counts of attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain.

According to court documents he allegedly reaped separate payments of $154,307, $44,564, $91,268, $6418, and $3904.

Kennedy and Rooprai have been denied bail.

All four will next face court on June 18.

Got a news tip? Email: [e-mail]