Couple jailed over fraud

By Rebecca Fraser
AN Endeavour Hills couple has been jailed for scamming $120,000 from Centrelink.
Husband and wife Patrick and Jean Snow appeared in Victoria’s County Court on Monday, with Judge Phillip Coish sentencing the pair to 15 months jail.
However, the couple could be freed in six months on two-year good behaviour bonds.
Mr Snow, 57, pleaded guilty to defrauding the Commonwealth and obtaining property by deception.
His wife, 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of defrauding the Commonwealth and obtaining property by deception.
The incidents occurred between 1998 and 2004 with each of the couple wrongfully gaining $60,000.
Centrelink general manager Hank Jongen said Monday’s sentence highlighted the seriousness of welfare fraud.
“If people deliberately attempt to defraud the system they will be caught and the penalties could be serious,” he said.
“These sentences highlight how seriously the courts treat cases of welfare fraud, and in particular, identity fraud.
“Monday’s sentence represents cases of people who deliberately set out to defraud the system of thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money.”
Last financial year the Director of Public Prosecutions successfully prosecuted 814 Victorian cases of welfare fraud to the value of $10.89 million in payments.
Customers can update their details at their local Centrelink office or call 13 6280.