Three immigration detainees who allegedly defrauded Medicare out of $8 million while awaiting deportation are back living in the community after being freed on bail, the government has confirmed.
Manuele Ene, Navpreet Singh, and a third man were arrested in September for allegedly tricking Australians into handing over their personal information and log-in details before collecting Medicare benefits on their behalf from inside the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre in Broadmeadows.
But in December The Herald Sun reported Ene and Singh had been given visas and released weeks earlier, which was confirmed by Services Australia in Senate Estimates last week in response to a question by Liberal senator James Paterson.
“So those three individuals who have been charged, are they just remaining in immigration detention, or have they been incarcerated in the prison system? What is their status?” asked Mr Paterson, following up on questions he had asked about the issue in October last year.
“My understanding is that they’ve been released on bail and been given visas as alleged prosecutions before the court,” said Services Australia General Manager, Fraud Control and Investigations, Peter Timson.
“So they are out of immigration detention after allegedly committing an $8 million Medicare fraud?” Mr Paterson asked.
“That is a matter for the Department of Home Affairs,” said Services Australia Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Payments and Integrity, Chris Birrer.
“I’m not suggesting you are responsible. If you are aware of the facts, they are important. They commit alleged fraud in immigration detention and then they are released on bail on visas?” Mr Paterson replied.
Mr Timson confirmed that was correct, and than added that they were “out on bail conditions as well”.
New Zealand national Ene, who is the brother of convicted murderer Comanchero bikie Richard Ene, was charged with proceeds of crime offences over the alleged scheme, while Indian national Singh was charged with dishonestly influencing a Commonwealth officer.
Header image: The Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre (Commonwealth NPM).
