In a significant ruling, a 32-year-old man from Woodbridge in Australia has been sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for attempting to fraudulently claim nearly $400,000 in superannuation and life insurance benefits following the unexpected death of his girlfriend in 2019.
The sentencing took place at the Perth District Court on June 7, 2024, concluding a case that began with the man’s arrest in July 2020. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged him after it was discovered that he had accessed his late girlfriend’s superannuation account shortly after her demise due to medical complications, altering the beneficiary details to his own.
Relatives of the deceased had raised alarms over her financial affairs when the man sought a copy of her death certificate, prompting a thorough investigation. The jury found him guilty in March 2024, convicting him of one count of using a mobile phone to commit a serious offence (fraud), a violation of subsection 474.14(2) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The court has mandated a non-parole period of one year and 11 months for the convicted individual.
Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman of the AFP highlighted the diligent efforts of the AFP investigators in safeguarding individuals from exploitation. “In this case, we have helped to protect this young woman’s nest egg and ensure the money is provided to the beneficiary who she chose,” said Detective Inspector Coleman. She extended her gratitude to the AFP team for their unwavering commitment to justice, not only in this case but in their daily endeavours to serve the community.
