Travel agencies raided, fresh charges laid over suspected fraud

Travel agencies raided, fresh charges laid over suspected fraud

A 38-year-old woman is the second to be charged for allegedly ripping off a pensioner travel concession scheme, the AAP reports per 9news.com.au.

NT police laid the charge for one count of criminal deception for defrauding the scheme between July 2011 and June 2013 following raids last month on a travel agency in Katherine.

The move comes as part of a wider investigation, according to AAP, with police raiding two other travel agencies in Alice Spring last weekend to collect evidence but did not result in any arrests. The news source also reports a home linked to one of the businesses was also included in the raid.

In addition, two agencies in Darwin are also under the microscope after the Department of Health tipped off police over anomalies detected in travel booked by the agencies, the AAP reports.

Darwin travel agent and former Crimestoppers NT chair Xana Kamitsis was jailed in December for defrauding the pensioner scheme of more than $120,000.

She pleaded guilty to corruption charges relating to travel and benefits and will be arraigned next week. Meanwhile the 38-year-old woman from Katherine will appear in the Darwin Magistrates Court on Friday, the AAP reports.

Image: iStock

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

darwin Katherine agency travel agency travel agent Xana Kamitsis

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