$49,000: Employee facing charges after allegedly using public funds for personal trips

Employee allegedly used public funds to pay for flights and accommodation on her overseas trips

BY Dexter Tilo 09 May 2025

A government employee from Sydney is facing charges after allegedly spending $49,000 in public money to fund her personal trips.

According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the woman allegedly used the public funds to pay for multiple flights and accommodation for her four personal trips overseas.

The trips happened over a span of more than 14 months, costing about $49,000.

She also allegedly faked a visa letter that claimed she was travelling for work, and allegedly arranged a false document for a foreign national to obtain a visa for entry into Australia.

Investigations into employee fraud

Investigations into her conduct started in June 2024 after the AFP received a tip regarding the employee's misconduct. A search warrant was later executed at her home in December.

She is currently facing three charges, including one count of dishonestly obtaining a gain from a Commonwealth entity, contrary to the Criminal Code. The other charges are:

One count of abuse of public office, contrary to section 142.2(1) of the Criminal Code
One count of delivering a document that is false or misleading in a material particular in connection with the proposed entry of a non-citizen into Australia with an application for a visa, contrary to section 234(1)(c) of the Migration Act 1958

The woman has been granted conditional bail, according to the AFP. She is due to reappear before the Downing Centre Local Court on July 2.