Sydney teacher and bikie associate son charged with bushfire, flood relief fraud
A Sydney schoolteacher and her son have been arrested after they allegedly pretended to be hard hit by the national disaster of 2019-2020 and applied for government funding.
Police & Courts
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A Sydney schoolteacher and her bikie associate son allegedly posed as bushfire and flood victims to obtain tens of thousands of dollars in government handouts.
The mother and son were arrested last Thursday morning as part of a widespread investigation into outlaw motorcycle gang members and associates taking advantage of disaster relief payments.
The mother allegedly received $10,000 through the NSW government’s bushfire grants after falsely claiming she was affected by the worst season in Australia’s history.
Police allege the teacher then applied for a $12,000 flood relief payment.
However, money never reached her account as the Raptor Squad allegedly found evidence she was linked to a web of bikies and associates accused of committing similar frauds.
That included her 24-year-old son.
Police allege the son, an associate of the Rebels OMCG, also received $10,000 through the bushfire grant program meant to support small businesses impacted by the 2019-20 fires.
“The state of NSW has endured an exceptionally difficult two years with the devastating effects of the bushfires, floods and the pandemic affecting everyone within our community,” Det Supt Weinstein said.
“Police will allege in court that these individuals used these situations to their advantage to defraud the government of thousands of dollars that should have gone to those in need.”
The mother and son were charged with fraud offences and granted bail to appear at Windsor Local Court on August 26.
Five other people were also arrested on Thursday and charged with allegedly making similar fraudulent claims for disaster payments.
Police also seized $60,000 worth of designer shoes, bags and accessories, a replica Glock handgun and a pokie machine.
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