Jerelyn Julliana Temple pleads guilty to ATO fraud at the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court

A Melbourne disability worker was busted by the ATO’s Operation Protego after claiming more than $21,000 in a fake GST refund as part of a clumsy tax rort.

Glam girl grabbed in clumsy ATO fraud.

A Melbourne disability worker was busted by the ATO’s Operation Protego after claiming more than $21,000 in a fake GST refund as part of a clumsy tax rort.

Jerelyn Julliana Temple, 23, pleaded guilty to one charge relating to ATO fraud at the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

In December 2021, a then 19-year-old Temple was a registered sole owner of a business when she lodged fake tax returns from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and was refunded more than $21,000.

The disability worker sent the tax return money to two other people after depositing it into her bank account.

Temple was caught by ATO’s Operation Protego, which cracked down on people committing GST fraud by investigating false statements lodged.

On Wednesday, Temple’s lawyer told the court that his client had gone through a difficult time when she committed the fraud.

The court heard Temple’s father died of early-onset dementia in 2023 and was not on NDIS at the time of the fraud in late 2021.

“Her parents divorced in 2013 … (during 2021) she was being relied on for emotional and practical support, she was doing what she could financially,” he said.

“It was need, not greed.”

Temple’s lawyer said she was introduced to the fraud by a friend but it was not “very sophisticated”.

“(The offending) was like an elephant walking through snow, the money went into the account (in her name). It was inevitable she would get caught,” he said.

The court heard the 23-year-old was working as a disability support worker and studying for a diploma in nursing.

“She has transformed her life significantly since the offence. She wants to study a bachelor’s degree and study in the nursing field,” the lawyer said.

“One concern is conviction, which would affect her current and future employment.”

Magistrate Catherine Lamble told Temple her crime was “serious”.

“You were quite young, you were going through very difficult circumstances with your father’s illness and rapid decline,” she said.

While sentencing Temple, without conviction, to a good behaviour bond for one year and to pay costs of $244, Ms Lamble said the 23-year-old had “good prospects”.

“You are someone who works hard and you have good prospects in your career. If a conviction is recorded, the prospect would be unduly limited,” Ms Lamble said.