Post by Banker on Jul 31, 2011 17:53:14 GMT 7
A CRIMINAL investigation is under way into allegations that staff at the Lebanese consul-general's office in Sydney have been paid wages in cash while illegally pocketing Centrelink payments.
The revelations come just days after the consul-general, Robert Naoum, returned to Sydney agreeing to pay off his unrelated debts in return for an arrest warrant being withdrawn. Now federal police have been called in to examine claims that his office has been defrauding the Commonwealth.
It is alleged some staff, among more than a dozen at the Edgecliff office, collected welfare and, in at least one case, a dole payment. At the same time, the consul-general's office had not been paying tax, superannuation or workers' compensation for its locally engaged staff.
More here with picture:
www.smh.com.au/national/diplomatic-dole-scandal-20110730-1i5w3.html
The revelations come just days after the consul-general, Robert Naoum, returned to Sydney agreeing to pay off his unrelated debts in return for an arrest warrant being withdrawn. Now federal police have been called in to examine claims that his office has been defrauding the Commonwealth.
It is alleged some staff, among more than a dozen at the Edgecliff office, collected welfare and, in at least one case, a dole payment. At the same time, the consul-general's office had not been paying tax, superannuation or workers' compensation for its locally engaged staff.
More here with picture:
www.smh.com.au/national/diplomatic-dole-scandal-20110730-1i5w3.html
