Tax fraudster Virginia Lavaki slammed in Moorabbin court over ‘disturbing deception’ of the ATO
A Uniting Church pastor who swindled taxpayers out of more than $10,000 in Jobseeker payments during the pandemic has been slammed for her “disturbing deception”.
South East
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A Parkville pastor who was busted after scamming the ATO out of more than $10,000 in Jobseeker payments during the pandemic has escaped jail and a conviction.
Virginia Lavaki pleaded guilty in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court this week to tax fraud, after scamming $10,566.37 from the ATO in 2022.
The court heard Lavaki had been living in Queensland when she lodged false statements for Jobseeker, claiming thousands of dollars that she was not eligible to receive.
Between February and October of 2022 Lavaki lodged 16 false declarations online and one false declaration over the phone, claiming she had a total income of $100 over that period.
ATO investigators found Lavaki had actually earned $31,666 over that period, making her eligible for just $2 of the payment.
Lavaki told the court she had been “going through hardship” at the time of the offending.
“I take full accountability for the offence,” she said.
“I’ve relocated to Melbourne to start all over again.”
Lavaki — a pastor and multicultural services co-ordinator for the Uniting Church of Australia — said she would lose her job if a conviction was recorded.
But Magistrate Angela Bolger had a more serious punishment in mind.
“Why should I not imprison you?” Ms Bolger said.
“When I was first in practice as a lawyer dealing with these kinds of matters, any amount in excess of $10,000 would receive a default punishment of imprisonment.”
Ms Bolger said Lavaki’s offending was “very disturbing”.
“You ought to be held at a higher standard in terms of behaviour and honesty,” she said.
“You’re not stealing from a faceless bureaucracy, you’re stealing from all of us, from everyone who pays taxes.”
Ms Bolger said she was “greatly troubled” by Lavaki’s attitude.
“You’ve approached this matter without any degree of seriousness,” Ms Bolger said.
“It’s as though you think this is just a trifling matter.”
However, Lavaki escaped both prison and a conviction, leaving court with a good behaviour bond.
Ms Bolger sentenced the pastor to a 12 month bond with a forfeiture of $2000, meaning if she breaks the bond, she’ll have to pay that to the court.
She is also required to return the $10,000 of scammed money to the ATO.
