Wimmera woman fined for defrauding Medicare

Jennifer Fleck, 35, appeared before the Horsham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, October 6, where she pleaded guilty to one count of deception.

Fleck was also given a two year good behaviour bond and ordered to pay back the $3000 she fraudulently claimed via a Medicare rebate.

Fleck was charged with dishonesty under commonwealth legislation which is an indictable deception offence which can carry up to 10 years imprisonment.

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Magistrate Ronald Saines said fraud such as this will not be condoned.

"It's a serious matter to defraud the Commonwealth in any way," he said.

"The welfare costs a lot of money."

Mr Saines said fraud like this hurts a system put in place to support Australians.

On December 27, 2017, Fleck submitted four false claims via Medicare express plus.

Medicare approved benefits for three of the false claims with a total of $3136.10 to be repaid.

Fleck provided a false invoice of the services she was claiming.

The payment was made on January 3, 2018 and Fleck withdrew $3000 the next day on January 4, 2018.

Medicare detected the offence in November 2018.

Fleck was given notice of a debt and invited to a formal interview which did not take place.

The defence counsel said she was in a vulnerable position when someone she befriended told her to make the fraudulent claim.

The defence counsel said the money was given to the person Fleck befriended.

Fleck was also ordered to pay $642 in filing and service fees.

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