21 Feb 2015

Women sentenced after fraudulent claim

5:32 pm on 21 February 2015

An Auckland mother of three has been ordered to pay back $6000 after fraudulently claiming carer support.

Pauline Selau last year admitted making multiple claims for carer support when, in fact, it was either partially provided, or not at all.

The money is intended to give the unpaid full-time carer of a person with disability a rest.

The Ministry of Health said Selau's relief carers denied working as much as she had claimed.

It wanted $38,000 in reparation.

But on Thursday, a Manukau District Court judge ordered Selau to pay back only $6000, and sentenced her to five months' community detention.