A six-strong gang is accused of rorting millions from the National Disability Insurance Scheme to splash out on expensive cars and jewellery.
The Australian Federal Police allege the western Sydney syndicate fleeced more than $10million in NDIS funding in what’s alleged to be the largest exploitation of the agency in its eight-year history.
Cops allegedly uncovered a treasure trove of expensive goods, including flashy cars, gold bullion, cryptocurrency, hundreds of thousands in cash when they executed 11 search warrants across Sydney on Tuesday.
They also claim to have found ‘a significant amount of jewellery’ and ‘a small amount of white powder suspected to be border-controlled drugs’.
The gang consisted of three companies which obtained NDIS funding for people who don’t have a disability and even skimmed funding from genuine participants without their knowledge, the AFP claim.
It’s further alleged the syndicate conspired with NDIS participants and other ‘sub-contracted’ service providers to obtain funding they were not entitled to receive and overclaimed for services to genuine participants.
Once the payments from the NDIS claims were received by the syndicate, an amount allegedly went back into the pockets of company operators.
Western Sydney woman Noura Bader (pictured) was one of six people arrested on Tuesday
AFP officers allegedly seized $600,000 gold bullion, $600,000 cash and even more in cryptocurrency
The alleged haul included 8kg of gold bullion valued at $600,000, another $600,000 in cash and $635,176 in cryptocurrency.
Several sports cars, including an BMW M3, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne with a combined value of $250,000 were also allegedly seized and towed away for further examination.
Lidcombe woman Noura Bader, 30, and four of the men- Mohammad Sallam, 34, of Lidcombe, Muath Sallam, 32, of Monterey, Gazwan Shahrouk, 24, of Granville, and Ahmed Moussa, 22, of Merrylands spent the night in police cells before they appeared in Central Local Court on Wednesday via videolink.
All were granted bail except Mohammad Sallam, whose lawyer Paul McGirr requested an adjournment until May 6.
The other four were released on strict bail conditions where they had to surrender their passports, cannot leave NSW and must report to police daily.
They also can’t be involved any business or enterprise associated with providing NDIS services.
Any breach of their bail conditions will see them back behind bars.
Magistrate Clare Farnan adjourned their matters until June 16.
Mr McGirr told the court the fact sheet for the matter was ‘quite complex’ and consisted more than 50 pages, the Daily Telegraph reported.
A number of flashy sports cars were allegedly seized, including this BMW M3 (pictured)
This Porsche Cayenne was also among several cars allegedly seized and towed away for examination
Police allege Mohammad Sallam and Bader operated two companies together, while allegedly Muath Sallam ran another, the publication reported.
Moussa allegedly dealt with the proceeds of crime equal to or greater than $1,000,000 while Mohamad Sallam, Bader, and Muath Sallam are accused of dishonestly causing a loss to the NDIS, according to court documents.
Mohammed Sallam was charged with causing a loss to the NDIA worth $1,986,942.59 and dishonestly causing a loss worth of $1,271,866.
He’s accused of allegedly enrolling participants to NDIS using false documents and later claiming for services that weren’t delivered to clients.
Bader was charged with dishonestly causing a $1,271,866 loss to the NDIA and causing an additional $1,986,942.59 loss.
She’s also accused of allegedly enrolling participants to NDIS using false documents and later claiming for services that weren’t delivered to clients.
The court was told Bader also had a history of failing to comply with court orders.
Police alleged Mohammad Sallam and Bader were known to each other, while Moussa was engaged to withdraw cash from approved claims on their behalf.
Moussa was charged with dealing with proceeds of crime over $1million in value.
Muath Sallam was charged with causing a $6,800 loss to the NDIA and attempting to cause a $60,346.75 loss to the NDIA.
Five men were arrested over the alleged rort where all but one were later released on bail
Shahrouk is accused of dealing with the proceeds of crime equal to or greater than $10,000.
Police allege Shahrouk was paid at least $40,000 to set up a bank account under his name to make fraudulent NDIS claims from one of the companies.
A sixth person, a 37-year-old Frenchman from Ryde was arrested as a person of interest.
He was charged with separate fraud offences to a value of $31,798 and was released on bail to appear in court at a later date.
Investigations into the alleged rort continue with more arrests anticipated.
‘Money is the key driver for this alleged fraud syndicate. There is no thought or care given to Australians who have legitimate disabilities and are in need of the assistance provided through the NDIS,’ AFP Commander Kirsty Schofield said.
‘Millions of dollars have allegedly been stolen by this criminal syndicate. Funds that have allegedly been spent on flashy vehicles when they could have been redirected to help other NDIS participants, like your mother, grandfather, sister or neighbour.’
AFP and NDIS officers (pictured) are continuing their inquiries with more arrests expected
NDIS Chief Risk Officer Mel Woodburn added: ‘The NDIA is monitoring this type of alleged behaviour, and we continue our investment in intelligence, data analytics and other compliance measures to build our capability to detect and respond to fraud,’ Ms Woodburn said.
‘Fraud is a crime, and the agency will not tolerate the misuse of funds. One dollar fraudulently obtained is one dollar that isn’t received by those for whom it was intended – our participants.
Anyone with information about suspected NDIS fraud should contact the Fraud Reporting Hotline on 1800 650 717.
The alleged fraud of the NDIS is claimed to be the largest exploitation of the agency in its eight year history. Pictured are officers involved in Tuesday’s operation
