Mum of nine who illegally claimed single parent benefits avoids jail

A mother of nine from Truganina who pocketed more than $36,000 in single parent benefits she wasn’t entitled to, has escaped jail. Here’s how the court decided to punish her instead.

Ubah Ali cheated taxpayers out of more than $36,000.

A Truganina mother of nine who was “struggling to make ends meet” helped herself to tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of illegal benefits, a court has heard.

Ubah Ali ripped off the government to the tune of $36,041 by saying she wasn’t working while claiming single parent and Newstart benefits.

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The 51-year-old Somalian refugee pleaded guilty to several charges levelled at her by the Department of Health and Human Services and was yesterday sentenced over her “deceitful behaviour”, narrowly avoiding a jail term.

Ali’s defence lawyer told the court his client is a single mother with nine children, including twin boys born in November last year, and had been struggling to provide for her family.

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“She was struggling financially — there was no suggestion this money was used to fund a lavish lifestyle, it was to make ends meet for her family,” he said.

Ali was convicted and placed on a 24-month community corrections order, must do 275 hours of unpaid work and undergo mental health treatment.

Magistrate Jennifer Grubissa said the charges were “very serious” and Ali had been lucky to avoid jail. “This is a very serious matter, a matter where courts normally entertain a term of imprisonment,” she said.

Ali was also ordered to pay back the full amount she stole — as well as costs $183.29 — on terms to be agreed with the Department.