NDIS fraud accused may be charged with offences against ATO

Four men and a woman who allegedly stole $10 million in an NDIS scam could also be in hot water with the tax office with the ATO in the process of passing on information to federal police, a court heard.

The taxation commissioner has his eyes on five people from western Sydney who are accused of swindling millions in funding from disabled people with a court hearing the ATO is in the process of passing information to the federal police.

A court has previously heard the group allegedly provided inflated invoices to the NDIS thereby skimming their disabled clients out of around $10 million of their funding allocations.

A file photo of Gazwan Shahrouk leaving Sydney Police Center in Surry Hills. Picture: Richard Dobson

Granville’s Gazwan Shahrouk, 25, is facing two counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime greater than $10,000 and Ahmed Moussa, 23, of Merrylands is charged with dealing in proceeds of crime greater than $1 million.

Brothers Mohammad Ali Mahmoud, 35, of Lidcombe and Muath Ali Mahmoud Sallam, 33, from Monterey, together with Noura Bader, 31, formerly of Lidcombe now of Yagoona are each facing two counts of dishonestly causing a loss.

Their cases came before Magistrate Robert Williams at Central Local Court on Wednesday, February 2.

Prosecutor Benjamin Scard asked the court for an adjournment given the development in the case.

Australian Federal Police raid an apartment in Lidcombe in relation to the alleged fraud. Picture: Toby Zerna

“The Commissioner of Taxation has made disclosures to the AFP. The first has been served and the second made yesterday to be served in the coming days,” Mr Scard said.

“The DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) requires time to consider.

“It is an incredibly voluminous (matter) and now has the added degree of complexity of a second agency and a second type of fraud.”

Shahrouk’s lawyer Ihab Jamal objected to the adjournment given the prosecution had already exceeded the allowable charge certification period by several months.

However, Magistrate Williams granted an adjournment until March 2.

$10M NDIS Fraud Raids

“In your absence Mr Jamal, Mr Scard did indicate the complexities of these proceedings,” Magistrate Williams said.

“In the circumstances, the other co-accused consented to the adjournment.

“Also, there is a further issue in relation to another prosecution being brought by another body.

“Taking all these matters into account, I will make a determination to extend the time.”

Magistrate Williams also consented to varying Bader’s bail so she can move from Lidcombe to Yagoona.

All co-accused with the exception of Mohammad Sallam have been granted bail.