A Wollongong father is facing up to 12 months behind bars after he failed to declare income from his work for a second time while receiving government benefits.
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Centrelink found Genou Tosibogwabau Lepani had under-declared, or failed to declare altogether, the amount of money he received from jobs with Hays Personnel and HealthShare NSW between October 2012 and November 2013 while still claiming the single parenting payment from the government.
Lepani's fraudulent conduct resulted in him being paid almost $13,000 in benefits he wasn't entitled to receive.
The overpayment is the second on Lepani's Centrelink record since he began receiving benefits in 1994, with records showing he was caught under-declaring his income between 1995 and 2001, resulting in an overpayment of $4777.
Documents tendered to Port Kembla Local Court last week said in the most recent period of offending, spanning 13 months, Lepani earned a total of $39,659 but told Centrelink he'd only received $2477.
His fortnightly income varied between $431 and $3327, however, the amounts he declared were between nil income and $1212.
During the same period he was paid $16,848 in parenting payments, but was only entitled to receive about $4000, resulting in an overpayment of $12,917.
Authorities told the court Lepani had under-declared his income on nine occasions, failed to declare it at all on five occasions and had registered an income of "nil" on 17 occasions.
The discrepancy was picked up during a data match initiative with the Australian Tax Office.
Lepani was invited to participate in an interview with Centrelink in early 2014, however, provided a written statement to them instead.
He was charged with engaging in conduct to obtain a financial advantage from a Commonwealth entity and has pleaded guilty.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of 12 months' jail and/or a $6600 fine. A pre-sentence report was ordered in court and Lepani's case was adjourned to September.