Nowra woman Anita Faasavalu allegedly used fake scripts for drugs, money

A heavily-pregnant woman’s alleged fraud spree throughout NSW now has the attention of a national government agency. Read why four more charges were added to her list.

A heavily-pregnant woman accused of using fake prescriptions to elicit drugs and money from pharmacies across the NSW south coast is now facing fraud charges too.

Anita Faasavalu, 26, pleaded not guilty earlier this year to four counts each of obtaining or attempting to obtain prohibited drugs, using a fake prescription, and dishonestly obtaining financial gain.

After appearing at Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, Faasavalu now faces four new charges of receiving financial advantage from a Commonwealth agency when she allegedly defrauding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Police allege Faasavalu used a “prescription authority” with intention to dishonestly obtain controlled drugs and monetary subsidy from the Federal Government program in Callala Bay and Nowra between May 27-28.

The Department of Health program, first launched in 1948, is aimed at providing subsidised medicines to prescriptions holders, with pharmacies dispensing the medication to be administered at home.

Anita Faasavalu. Picture: Facebook

The charges come as Faasavalu, who is about eight months pregnant, faces further charges for allegedly also using fake prescriptions to obtain dangerous medicinal drugs, including oxycodone and fentanyl.

On May 10, Faasavalu allegedly attempted to obtain 60 tablets of Tramadol, a type of opioid, from Priceline Pharmacy in The Ponds, Western Sydney.

Later that month, police allege Faasavalu attempted to obtain 10 fentanyl patches from Ramsey Pharmacy Nowra, before attempting to obtain another 10 fentanyl patches from Good Price Pharmacy Nowra.

Less than an hour later, police allege Faasavalu attempted to garner 120 Endone Oxycodone tablets from Blooms Chemist in Nowra, a 10 minute drive away.

Officers from the South Coast Police district arrested Faasavalu on June 2.

Nowra Local Court

She remains in custody, having been denied bail, and has undergone a rehabilitation program.

Another woman accused of the alleged fraud spree is also currently before the courts.

Chelsea Leyla Turner, 39, is charged with two counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain a prohibited drug by false representation, and a further two counts of attempting to induce dispensation of a prescription after a string of alleged instances across the Shoalhaven.

On May 24, Turner is alleged to have attempted to obtain an unspecified amount of Oxycodone from a pharmacy in Vincentia. A few hours later, she attempted to obtain the same drug from a pharmacy in Bomaderry.

Faasavalu will return to Nowra Local Court on November 8.