A Port Macquarie woman used a number of aliases to defraud a federal government fund designed to help people impacted by disaster.
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Anna Patricia Damkjaer, 28, illegally obtained some $3800 from the Australian government disaster recovery payment scheme between December 18, 2019 and March 27, 2020.
She was also convicted of attempting to defraud further funds from the scheme.
The payment is a one-off, non-means tested payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child who have been adversely affected by a major disaster either in Australia or overseas.
Facts presented to the court showed that Damkjaer made the claims through Services Australia over the phone.
She used several aliases during the conversations to arrange for illegal payments.
Damkjaer was sentenced in the Port Macquarie Local Court on November 27.
The Commonwealth charges carry a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and/or $25,000 penalty.
The charges included, obtaining a financial advantage by deception, attempting to obtain a financial advantage, dishonestly intending to obtain a gain and dealing in the proceeds of crime.
Magistrate Georgina Darcy sentenced Damkjaer, who was already in custody, to 12 months jail and ordered her to repay the $3800.
The jail term was suspended with a Commonwealth bond of $500.
Damkjaer was also charged with a raft of driving, stealing and break and enter offences.
She also pleaded guilty to, two counts of driving while suspended, larceny, driving with illicit drugs in her system, driving with a child unrestrained, possession of a prohibited drug and aggravated break and enter.
The charges relate to, driving a motor vehicle while unlicensed on June 24, 2020; stealing an iPhone on November 5, 2019; driving while her licence was suspended on June 22, 2020; driving while under the influence of an illicit drug on June 22, 2020; possession of a prohibited drug on May 14, 2020 and aggregated break and enter in company on August 8, 2020.
Court documents show that Damkjaer allegedly stole three mountain bikes valued at $15,000 when she entered the Quay North Apartments in company with another person.
Magistrate Darcy sentenced Damkjaer to serve 12 months jail in the community, expiring on November 26, 2021.
She was ordered to abstain from drugs, enter a residential rehabilitation centre, undertake community corrections for 12 months and adhere to a curfew from 10pm until 5am at a Cronulla address.
Damkjaer was disqualified from driving for 12 months and enter a community corrections order for 12 months. Both community corrections orders are served concurrently.
She was further fined $400.
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