Housing benefits fraudster seeks legal aid over ‘financial crisis’

A WOMAN who falsely claimed to be a single mum for 15 years to claim $86,000 in public housing benefits is now seeking free legal aid because she’s in “financial crisis”.

Rebecca Khodragha posed as a battling single mother for 15 years to live in a Punchbowl housing commission unit. Picture: Phil Rogers

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THE woman who falsely claimed to be a single mum for 15 years to claim $86,000 in public housing benefits is now seeking free legal aid because she’s in “financial crisis”.

Rebecca Khodragha, 44, appeared at Parramatta District Court on Thursday morning to appeal the three months’ house detention sentence she was given last year after she was convicted of two counts of fraud.

Ms Khodragha married her husband Khaled in 1991, but their wedding was unregistered and the pair have been living in a Punchbowl housing commission unit since 1999 with their two children, while her husband ran his own electrical business.

The couple also owned two other properties — a unit in Lakemba and a Greenacre house.

After being before a judge more than seven times, Ms Khodragha’s appeal was adjourned so her new solicitor, Mr Zemarai Khatiz, had time to prepare.

Rebecca Khodragha arrives at court on Thursday morning to appeal her three month home detention sentence, that the judge later called “very lenient”. Picture: Phil Rogers

Ms Khodragha dismissed her former lawyer last Wednesday, one day before her appeal.

The judge, Martin Sides, said at first glance her sentence seemed too light.

“It seems very lenient to get house detention for that amount ($86,000),” Judge Sides said.

Judge Sides said it appeared to be another fraud case “running true to form” where the accused seeks to continuously manipulate the system.

Ms Khodragha also sought the case be adjourned so she could apply for legal aid because she is going through “a very difficult time financially.”

“She is going through a financial crisis ... and has used all funds to pay her previous lawyer,” Mr Khatiz said.

The crown prosecutor for NSW Public Housing Antony Di-Francesco challenged the suggestion Ms Khodragha, who is allegedly still working two jobs, is in financial crisis.

“If she has a problem ... it is a problem of her own making,” Mr Di-Francesco said.

Judge Sides said it was “frightening” to think Ms Khodragha who works as a secretary at United Medical Centre still has access to sensitive information.

“It’s frightening ... I wonder if the patients know?”

The case has been adjourned until February 22.