Vietnamese refugee who claimed $23,000 worth of welfare payments he wasn’t entitled to guilty of defrauding Centrelink
- Refugee who claimed more than $23,000 of welfare payments is guilty of fraud
- He had an undeclared salary of $65,000 but still claimed payments on the side
- He claims he was struggling to support his five children and death of his parents
A Vietnamese refugee who claimed more than $23,000 of welfare payments he wasn’t entitled to is guilty of defrauding Centrelink.
Sam David Gordon, 43, had earned an undeclared salary of $65,000 but claimed Centrelink’s Newstart Allowance on the side.
The Queensland man claimed he was struggling to support his five children and was struggling to cope with the death of his parents- who both died from cancer.
Sam David Gordon, 43, had earned an undeclared salary of $65,000 but more than $23,000 worth of Centrelink payments
The Newstart Allowance is paid every two weeks and the amount paid depends on the circumstances of the individual.
Those who are single with a dependent child or children can claim roughly $600 every fortnight.
Those who are partnered can claim roughly $500 every fortnight.
Gordon was claiming the tens of thousands of dollars of payments he wasn’t entitled to for over 18 months.
Despite receiving warnings from authorities, the 43-year-old continued to deceive Centrelink and received thousands of dollars of fraudulent payments for another seven months.
He will now be forced to pay back more than $21,000 of Centrelink payments including fees, but won’t face anytime in jail.
Centrelink has clawed back $1,600 worth of the payments owed by Gordon.
He will now be forced to pay back more than $21,000 of Centrelink payments including fees but won’t face anytime in jail