An Australian woman with low intelligence was jailed for defrauding the Welfare Department (Centrelink) of more than A $ one hundred thousand in disability benefits.
Between 2012 and 2015, Wye (Cassandra Dawn Way), a 57-year-old woman in Kunzhou, falsely claimed her husband was unemployed and swindled A $101564.36 in disability benefits and care benefits, the Daily Mail reported.
On Monday, the Townsville District Court, (Townsville District Court), convicted Wye of three counts of obtaining financial benefits by deception. Wei was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, but was released after 10 months. In addition, Wye must abide by the 3-year compliance order.
Defense lawyer Paco (Rowan Pack) said Wye had a low level of intelligence, depression and anxiety symptoms and was deeply remorseful of what he had done.
Wei's husband was initially charged with fraud, but she admitted that she had filled in the papers for her husband, who had signed only.
Before the court ruling, Wye paid only A $30 a week in fraudulent benefits to (Department of Human Services), the human services department, for a total of more than A $1200. According to the ruling, Wei also had to repay the remaining A $100338.11 in fraudulent benefits, as well as a $1000 deposit.