A maintenance man who created almost $200,000 worth of false claims for services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme has paid back part of what he stole.
Andreas Strepelias admits he dishonestly obtained more than $191,000 from the Commonwealth through NDIS frauds committed over a months-long period in 2018.
His company, Quality Home Improvements, was approved in 2017 to provide services to NDIS participants.
Initially he gathered his own clients, and provided gardening and house cleaning services including mowing lawns and cleaning linen.
Strepelias would then log onto the NDIS platform and make a claim for his service, using his correct personal details and money was paid into a bank account in his name.
But he began to cut corners in May 2018.
His lawyer Jim Dounias told the Victorian County Court on Tuesday that Strepelias had come across an old acquaintance who offered him a list of names of clients already approved for NDIS services.
Between May 23 and July 24 of 2018, Strepelias created false requests for payments for services he purportedly provided for 50 NDIS participants.
As a result he was wrongly paid $191,159.71.
Mr Dounias said Strepelias kept $94,030 of that money and the rest was paid into an account known as Ken's Dollhouse Consult, in which he had no interest.
Strepelias gave his lawyer a cheque for the $94,030 to repay what he obtained from the fraud.
But the court heard there are issues over how the funds can be repaid because the National Disability Insurance Agency is not set up to receive funds, only to pay them.
The individuals Strepelias targeted had between $987.50 and $3675.50 claimed against their packages.
One person had to reduce her support hours because of insufficient funds in her account, as a result of Strepelias' claim.
Another recipient had been due to attend a YMCA camp, funded by her NDIS package, but was unable to because of Strepelias' claim.
That person missed out on the positive camp experience while her mother, her full-time carer, was denied the respite opportunity.
The NDIA was made aware of the fraudulent claims in early July 2018, but an investigation did not begin until October 2019.
Judge Trevor Wraight said unlike a fraud against Medicare, in which the sole victim is the Commonwealth, a fraud against the NDIS affects individuals and their plans.
"These people had to work out what's wrong with their package - why is it going down in number and (they're) not getting the services," he said.
"It's the greatest fear, when you look at your bank account and someone has taken money out of it."
The court heard there was initially no investigation arm set up in the NDIA, prompting delays in these cases being looked into and addressed.
Judge Wraight said he believed that was in the process of being fixed now.
"I think we're going to see a lot more of these cases in the next year or so," he said.
Strepelias will be sentenced later this month.
