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

Another one of four co-accused in an alleged $1m NDIS fraud targeting vulnerable people on the Mid-North Coast has been granted bail. Here’s the latest.

Kempsey Police Station.

Another one of four co-accused in an alleged $1m NDIS scam targeting vulnerable people on the Mid-North Coast has been granted bail.

Manbir Rooprai was initially remanded in custody following his arrest in March this year in relation to the alleged fraud ring operating across the Kempsey region.

But now it can be revealed he has been granted bail and is living in home detention while reporting daily to Kempsey Police Station.

His bail was granted on June 5 and includes a surety of $10,000.

Rooprai, 32, was arrested along with Richard Kennedy, 36, after the alleged NDIS swindle was halted by police following a co-ordinated investigation and subsequent raids.

Charlene Gatt at Kempsey Local Court on April 10.

Kennedy’s partner Charlene Gatt, 32, was arrested around the same time.

A fourth person – Emilley Suzanne Welsh from South West Rocks – was arrested about a week later on March 26.

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

Welsh, 35, is charged with attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain and is currently on bail.

Rooprai is charged with nine counts of dishonestly intending to obtain a gain.

According to court documents, separate payments were in the order of $154,307, $44,564, $91,268, $6418, and $3904.

Kennedy is charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime in excess of $1m and four counts of dishonest intent to obtain a gain.

Kempsey Police Station. Picture: Janine Watson.

He is also charged with handling an explosive/precursor without a licence, disposing of a motor vehicle part and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Kennedy is the only one of the four co-accused to still be remanded in custody.

Gatt, who is charged with attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain was granted bail on March 19 following her arrest and had her reporting conditions changed at Kempsey Local Court on April 10 allowing her to live in Lake Illawarra and report to police there every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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

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.

All four co-accused are yet to enter pleas and their matters all return to Kempsey Local Court on July 23.

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