Fraud and dishonesty offences are considered by the court to be serious and penalties can be severe, including significant fines, criminal charges and imprisonment. It is important that you speak to a criminal lawyer who has experienced with these types of charges to ensure you get the best possible outcome.
Fraud is a complex area of criminal law. The charge of “obtaining a benefit by deception” is commonly known as fraud. To be convicted of this offence, the police must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:
- A person by any deception, dishonestly,
- obtained property belonging to another person, or
- obtained any financial advantage or caused any financial disadvantage.
Depending on the severity of the offence, there are various penalties that the Court could impose. The maximum penalty for a fraud offence pursuant to section 192E is a term of imprisonment for 10 years. However, if the matter is finalised in the Local Court, the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment for 2 years. The Court can also make an order for compensation.
If you have been charged with fraud, our experts at Conditsis Lawyers are here to help. Call us to book an appointment with a criminal lawyer in our Newcastle office on 02 4058 5844.