Jai Falzon: Tradesman charged with Covid relief fraud

A tradie charged with illegally claiming Covid-19 government relief payments and later used the money to buy a Mercedes ute has appeared in court.

A concreter who allegedly fraudulently claimed government relief payments has asked the courts to let him use the Mercedes ute he bought with the money.

Jai Edward Falzon appeared before Penrith Local Court on Friday on a summons from NSW Police.

Standing before Magistrate David O’Neil, Falzon asked if he could use his ute so he could work to pay off his debt but the prosecution was hot on his case.

“The case against the defendant is so overwhelmingly strong, we ask that your honour confirms the freezing order,” the police prosecutor said.

“The vehicle can be shown to be 100 per cent funded by virtue of the offending.”

Jai Falzon outside Penrith Local Court on Friday.

The prosecutor argued against the return of the vehicle to Falzon, citing decline in value.

“There is significant risk that should the property be returned, the value would continue to diminish by its use by Mr Falzon,” the prosecutor said.

Falzon, whose address is listed as Warialda Rail, near Armidale, explained his position.

“I have pleaded not guilty and am unable to get legal support without working which is why I need my vehicle,” he said.

“I rely on my grandmother for everything at the moment because I’m stuck. The closest Woolworths is 70km away and she has to drive everywhere as I’m in financial hardship because I’m unable to pay for accommodation and drive.”

The young tradie explained he thought he was entitled to the money for his small businesses but forgot to bring the eligibility form with him when he came into court on Friday.

“It said I was able to apply when I looked at the NDIS scheme so I did and when the money came through I thought there were no issues but now I know there was,” Falzon said.

“Your stance is that you thought you were eligible for a number of benefits from a number of entities?” Magistrate O’Neil confirmed with the defendant, who replied “yes”.

Jai Falzon was given a hearing date in court on Friday.

The court heard that, due to the freezing of his items including the ute and cement mixer, he had lost work and opportunities.

“I entered into a verbal agreement to work on a house which the person has now had to sell because of what has occurred which is a loss of income of $30,000 for me,” Falzon said.

“I also got an internship at White Haven in Narrabri but can’t go now because it’s a 30km drive away and I don’t have a car.”

The court heard Falzon was unable to buy a cheaper utility vehicle to use in the interim.

Despite hearing of Falzon’s situation, the prosecutor pushed for the continuance of a freezing order which was originally made by a registrar at Nowra Local Court.

“Today my application is that your honour continue the freezing order as there is much more evidence to be raised by the OIC (officer in charge) which contradicts what Mr Falzon said today about being eligible to claim that money,” the prosecutor said.

The magistrate cautioned Falzon.

“You’re in a difficult position, you don’t have a lawyer and you’re pleading not guilty,” Magistrate O’Neil said.

“On what I’ve read, the police have a very strong case. Suddenly there’s all this money in your bank account and that money is used to buy the Mercedes.”

“The difficulty is that the facts say that the applications remain in the names of different entities. Sometimes Zencom, then McDonald Air Conditioning, FitCo Group, Idofold, CNN Thompson Proprietary Limited. Pinq Fashion and either these applications were refused or in 31 or 32 instances were paid into your account.

“What I’m saying is that these facts are strongly suggestive of fraudulent activity.”

The magistrate told the court that it would be difficult to argue the strength of Falzon’s case until he’s had a hearing.

The freezing order was confirmed by the Magistrate David O’Neil and a hearing date has been set for Falzon’s case in July.