Bikies charged with defrauding bushfire victim payments

Police have laid fraud charges against a number of people, alleging that they dishonestly claimed government payments intended for bushfire victims.

Many of the alleged offenders are said to have links to the Rebels bikie gang.

Six men, aged from 25 to 32, and three women, aged 26 to 37, were arrested as part of a two-day operation throughout western Sydney.

It is alleged the group claimed $700,000 through a NSW Government grant scheme.

Alleged Bushfire Fraud

After the bushfires in early 2020, the NSW Government began a scheme offering relief grants of up to $40,000.

Many victims waited months to see any money and had to go through strict grant application processes.