Arrest warrant is issued for boyfriend accused of stealing a mother’s Centrelink payments while she lay dead in a bathtub for NINE MONTHS
- A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the boyfriend of murdered woman
- Andrew Baker, 52, is wanted for claiming Centrelink payments of Sarah Gatt, 40
- Ms Gatt was killed in 2017 and her body was found in her Melbourne apartment
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the boyfriend of a murdered Melbourne mother after he failed to front court for allegedly claiming her Centrelink payments as she lay dead in the bath.
Andrew Baker, 52, is accused of claiming Sarah Gatt’s welfare payments for nine months as her body lay in her Kensington apartment.
He is not a suspect in her murder.
The Department of Health charged Baker, who is also known as Andrew Mullarkey, for unlawfully receiving the woman’s disability pension and carer’s allowance from May 2017 to February 2018.
Andrew Baker, 52, is accused of claiming Sarah Gatt’s (pictured) welfare payments for nine months as her body lay in her Kensington apartment
Authorities suspect Ms Gatt, 40, was killed around April 19, 2017 after an assault but her body was not found until January 3, 2018.
The investigation into her death is ongoing and Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Baker is a suspect.
He was originally scheduled to appear in court on July 4 but did not appear.
The case was adjourned to August 1 but Mr Baker again failed to be at court.
Crown Prosecutor Alexandra Smith told the court there was two Mr Baker’s listed at court on Thursday.
‘I have spoken to that man and it is not him. He is here for police summary matters,’ Ms Smith said, according to The Herald Sun.
The Mr Baker the DHS sought to prosecute over obtaining financial advantage by deception was not at court.
‘He failed to appear at the last mention. It is my understanding he is homeless. We will be seeking a warrant,’ Ms Smith said.
Magistrate Kate Hawkins granted the warrant.
Authorities suspect Ms Gatt, 40, was killed around April 19 2017 after an assault but her body was not found until January 2018 at her Kensington apartment (pictured)