Matthew David Daly charged with multiple counts of Covid relief fraud

The 37-year-old was arrested on Friday and held in the Toowoomba watch house until his charges were mentioned in court on Saturday.

The 37-year-old man remained in the watch house when his matters were mentioned before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Saturday.

A 37-year-old man charged with multiple Covid-19 relief fund fraud counts has appeared briefly before Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Matthew David Daly was charged on Friday with 61 mostly fraud counts, many of which related to allegedly defrauding the Covid-19 relief and recovery fund, and some drug offences.

Police claim the Gatton resident used various false names in attempting to obtain money from the fund, mostly allegedly carried out in New South Wales.

Daly was not required to be in court for the mention of his matters on Saturday morning and remained in the Toowoomba watch house as duty solicitor Nathan Bouchier, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, told the court there would be no bail application for his client at this stage.

Mr Bouchier asked for a three-week adjournment so Daly could organise legal representation.

Daly was not required to enter any pleas to the charges.

There being no application for bail, Magistrate Graham Lee remanded Daly in custody and adjourned the case for mention back in the same court on January 31 with Daly’s appearance in court that day excused.