Centrelink cheat caught with $250k in cash taught others how to rort the system

An expert welfare cheat who taught others to rort the system told her 'customers' to pretend their kids had ADHD and only visit certain doctors who 'didn't ask questions'.

Rebecca Assie, 61, last week pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court to running the fraud syndicate - started by her late-husband Jamal Elali - from their housing commission home in Padstow, western Sydney.

Assie - who was found with nearly $250,000 in cash in her house when it was raided by the Australian Federal Police in 2013 - admitted helping customers steal $137,397 worth of Centrelink payments between February 8, 2013 and September 3, 2015.

But the welfare cheat's guidance came at a cost, with customers only helped after a cash deposit was paid to Assie - with cash often exchanged in a McDonald's toilet.

Rebecca Assie (pictured) last week pleaded guilty to running a welfare cheating syndicate. In 2013 she was found to be hiding $250,000 in her housing commission home, which is believed to be proceeds of her crimes

Rebecca Assie (pictured) last week pleaded guilty to running a welfare cheating syndicate. In 2013 she was found to be hiding $250,000 in her housing commission home, which is believed to be proceeds of her crimes

Court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia reveal how Assie - under the guidance of her husband - often filled out forms on behalf of customers and wrote down what to say to ensure their claims would be approved.

HOW WELFARE CHEAT EXPERT RORTED THE SYSTEM:

- Rebecca Assie and her late-husband Jamal Elali ran a systematic Centrelink scam

- Mr Elali would often fill out forms for his clients to ensure their claims were approved

- Assie told customers to say their children had conditions such as ADHD to get their welfare approved 

- She often called on behalf of her clients to make doctors appointments

- Assie would accompany her clients to their appointments and often speak privately with doctors

- If one doctor refused to sign forms, she would book in at another doctor until they were approved

- Appointments were commonly made with doctors who 'didn't ask questions' 

- Assie used code words when talking to customers about money

- 'One and a half kilo of grapes' meant her clients needed to pay $1500

- Transactions were always in cash and exchanges were made in public toilets away from prying eyes 

One of the couple's major clients Joulan Obeid first approached them in 2012, asking for help to falsely claim carer's payments for her daughter.

Assie instructed Obeid to visit her local Centrelink office and collect the necessary forms, before handing them and cash to the expert couple who then filled them in.

Within a couple of months Obeid was approved to receive both carers allowance and carers payments.

She continued to receive the false payments until May 2015, when Centrelink ordered a review of her entitlement.

In order to help, the welfare cheating couple demanded Obeid pay $1500 in cash.

She referred to payments by using code words like: 'One kilo and half of grapes for it.'

On May 13, 2015, Obeid went to a doctor's appointment organised by Assied to get a series of medical report forms filled out.

Assie is recorded in a phone call advising Obeid to tell the doctor her daughter has 'ADHD and behave [sic] bad (at home)'.

When the first doctor refused to sign the form, Elali instructs the mother to go to see a different specialist. 

In a phone call recorded by the Australian Federal Police, Obeid is heard to ask Elali: 'Why don't you sort everything out

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT In news vacuum, rumours and concern swirl over Catherine mogaznewsen