A Goulburn property and several luxury vehicles worth an estimated $340,000 have been forfeited to the commonwealth following an investigation by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Fraud Taskforce.
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The forfeiture is connected to the arrest of five people in May 2019 who allegedly defrauded the NDIS out of $1.1 million.
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All five were arrested at four residences in the western Sydney suburbs of Lurnea and Liverpool on May 22.
Taskforce investigators will allege in court that three registered NDIS providers controlled and exploited by those arrested fraudulently claimed the NDIS payments from more than 50 people on disability plans.
NDIS Fraud Taskforce established Operation Apus in December 2018 to target high risk and serious criminal activity targeting the NDIS.
The operation consisted of the Australian Federal Police, the National Disability Insurance Agency and Services Australia.
The Supreme Court of NSW handed down the forfeiture orders on April 3 and is part of ongoing civil court proceedings.
AFP national manager of criminal assets confiscation Stefan Jerga said the AFP and its partners remained committed to pursuing those exploiting the most vulnerable in the Australian community.
"Fraud against the NDIS and fraud more generally against government measures intended to support our most vulnerable and in need is an insidious criminal activity," Mr Jerga said.
"This forfeiture should reassure our community that at this very challenging time for our nation, agencies across the commonwealth are working proactively together to deliver and safeguard government measures which support the community.
"This includes creating a hostile environment for criminal groups by targeting and removing the profits from their fraudulent activities."
Anyone with information about suspected fraud involving the NDIS should contact the Fraud Reporting Hotline on 1800 650 717. Anyone with information about other suspected criminal activity including fraud against other government support measures should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
