Primary school staffer allegedly linked to organised crime arrested over Covid certificate

Police allege a primary school employee with links to organised crime provided a fake Covid vaccination certificate to her workplace.

Police allege a primary school administrative manager is an associate of an organised crime organisation and provided a fake Covid vaccination certificate to her workplace.

At 8.30am on Tuesday, police executed a search warrant on a home in Merrylands West after an extensive investigation into the activities of a Sydney-based organised crime organisation.

Police allege the home belongs to a primary school employee associated with the southwest Sydney organisation who obtained a false Covid vaccination certificate, which she provided to her workplace as proof of her vaccination status.

A primary school employee has been charged after allegedly producing a fake Covid vaccination certificate. Picture: NSW Police

During the search, police uncovered and seized cash, documentation, and electronic items for further forensic examination.

The 55-year-old administrative manager was arrested and charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, dealing with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000, and participating in criminal group contributing to criminal activity.

The Merrylands West resident will appear in Fairfield Local Court on Wednesday.

The 55-year-old woman is facing three charges. Picture: NSW Police

The arrest comes a year after detectives from the State Crime Command’s criminal groups squad established Strike Force Sugarcane to investigate an organised crime network based in southwest Sydney.

Since July 2021, detectives have charged 20 people with offences related to drug supply, firearm, fraud, proceeds of crime, and direction of or participation in criminal group activities.

All of the charged persons remain before the courts.

Originally published as Primary school staffer allegedly linked to organised crime arrested over Covid certificate