Richard Kennedy, Manbir Rooprai: Accused NDIS scammers in Kempsey Local Court
Three people have been hit with charges after a multi-agency probe into alleged NDIS fraud incidents across the Mid-North Coast, with police alleging one of the accused netted more than $1m from the scam.
Mid-North Coast
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Three people have been hit with charges after a multi-agency probe into alleged NDIS fraud incidents across the Mid-North Coast, with police alleging one of the accused netted more than $1m from the scam.
Two men, Richard Kennedy, 36, and Manbir Rooprai, 32, fronted Kempsey Local Court on Thursday after the alleged NDIS swindle was halted by police following a coordinated investigation and subsequent raids.
A 31-year-old woman who was also allegedly involved in the scam was also arrested and charged and will front court at a later date.
The investigation arose as part of Strike Force Mount, which 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 extensive inquiries, police – with assistance from NDIA investigators, Australian Federal Police, and Services Australia – raided properties in South West Rocks, Arakoon, and further south in Sydney on Wednesday.
During the searches, investigators allegedly found and seized several documents, records, and electronic storage devices.
The trio were arrested and taken to Kempsey Police Station and were charged with a number of fraud offences.
Kennedy 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 was charged with four counts of dishonest intent to obtain a gain, and two counts of attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain.
Kennedy and Rooprai appeared in the same court on Thursday before Magistrate Juliana Crofts, where they did not apply for bail and bail was therefore refused.
Meanwhile, the woman was charged with attempting to dishonestly obtain a gain.
She was granted strict conditional bail and will appear before Kempsey Local Court on April 10.
Kennedy and Rooprai will return to Kempsey Local Court at a later date.
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