A Geelong fraudster has been jailed after admitting she ripped off tens of thousands of dollars from Centrelink. For three years, Maria Alimic lied to the agency about her employment income, reaping more than $50,000 worth of disability support pension payments she was not entitled to receive. But the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard that the 52-year-old will be forced to pay back only $5600 of the money she stole, largely due to a bureaucratic bungle. Alimic was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to four dishonesty offences. Magistrate Michael Coghlan said the Corio woman had made an “art form” of defrauding the Commonwealth. David Sagnelli, prosecuting for the Department of Human Services, said authorities became aware of Alimic’s deception after receiving a tip-off in December 2015.
