A woman, who police allege fraudulently applied for 34 combined Bushfire and COVID-19 government grants, was expected to face court in Newcastle on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The woman allegedly applied for the grants between March 12 and September 13. A total of 11 were granted and she received $104,000, police said.
Police also allege the woman attempted to obtain a further $258,000 in grants which she was not entitled to.
Strike Force Roche was established by several police districts within the Northern Region to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.
Following extensive inquiries, police attended a home in Aberdare about 1.20pm Friday, where they arrested the woman.
She was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with 16 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial benefit by deception.
She was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court Saturday.
Investigations under the strike force are ongoing across multiple police districts in the Northern Region.
Anyone with information relating to the incident has been urged to contact police through CrimeStoppers on 188 333 000.
For faster access to the latest Newcastle news download our NEWCASTLE HERALD APP and sign up for breaking news, sport and what's on sent directly to your email
Simon McCarthy
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
