This was published 7 months ago
Two men arrested over alleged $360,000 disaster funding rip-off
Two men accused of fraudulently claiming more than $360,000 in Queensland disaster funding will front court next month.
The 16-month investigation into the alleged 2019 fraud resulted in police searching a pastoral property near Cloncurry and several businesses in Mount Isa on December 15 and 16 last year.
Queensland police inspected a large pastoral property near Cloncurry to investigate if the alleged expenditure relating to the grant claims had occurred. They allege it had not. Credit:Queensland Police Service
Officers seized documents and electronic evidence. They also arrested a 47-year old Mount Isa man and a 71-year-old man, who lived at the pastoral property.
It will be alleged the men falsified documents and dishonestly gained funding from two grant schemes administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority.
The claims were for the 2019 north and far north Queensland monsoon trough grant schemes.
After an inspection of the large pastoral property, police would allege the claimed grant expenditures did not occur.
Both men have been charged with two counts of fraud.
Police also charged the younger man with extra stealing and fraud offences as part of an investigation into allegedly stolen heavy earthmoving machinery.
The duo were due to appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on February 14.
Detective Inspector Troy Pukallus said he was pleased those who allegedly took advantage of the support provided to help people in times of disaster had been identified and charged.
“These arrests are the culmination of over a year-long, intensive and extensive investigation and I would like to thank the investigators for their meticulous work,” he said.