MyIntegra NDIS fraudster Hakam Asadi sentenced for disability rort

A St Kilda East conman claimed almost $60,000 he rorted from the NDIS lobbed into his account via a “copy and pasting” error.

Hakam Asadi stole almost $60,000 from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

A scoundrel who stole cash from National Disability Insurance Scheme coffers has avoided a jail term.

Hakam Kali Asadi, 33, was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday to a 24-month community correction order after pleading guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception

Asadi diverted cash bound for NDIS providers into four bank accounts he controlled.

The greedy conman rorted $52,345 from his ex-employer Integra Choice Control Pty Ltd via multiple bogus transactions between December 2018 and January 2019.

Integra, now called MyIntegra, acts as an intermediary between the NDIS providers and disabled participants, the court heard.

Asadi attempted to fleece a further $85,992 during the same period but was unsuccessful.

The former customer service team leader’s modus operandi was to create false invoices which included his bank account number instead of the provider’s account details.

Asadi masked his skulduggery by posing as “inactive” disability participants whose information was contained on a company portal.

The Integra chief executive was tipped off to “some fraudulent activity” so she mobilised a consultant to conduct a forensic investigation.

The consultant discovered the dodgy dealings and the matter was referred to police.

The court heard Asadi, who worked at Integra from April 2018 to January 10 2019, continued stealing even after he “voluntarily” left the company.

Police arrested Asadi at Southern Cross station in February last year.

Asadi told investigators he “couldn’t recall ever putting his bank account number in a provider’s account”.

The scoundrel also denied knowledge of the offending and claimed he wasn’t aware the stolen cash was even in his bank account.

Asadi told police the only explanation for the cash being in his bank accounts was via a “copy and pasting” error.

Asadi later fessed up to his crimes, submitting he needed the cash to please his fiance.

The court heard the couple had moved from New Zealand and Asadi was under pressure to bring home the bacon.

It was submitted Asadi blew the dough on furniture, rent and bond.

“The offending was committed thereafter in a desperate attempt to try and make his partner happy with independent accommodation and furnishings,” Asadi’s barrister said.

Asadi worked at Lion Diary & Drinks between April and November 2020 and later joined Hoban Recruitment in December 2020.

Asadi, from St Kilda east, said he was fearful of losing his current job if his offending is made public.

Judge Justin Hannebery took into account Asadi’s early guilty plea and his lack of offending since his arrest.

Asadi, who also pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception, was convicted and ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid community work.

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