How woman fleeced Centrelink out of $93,000 by claiming she was caring for her 'sick' husband - while he worked 35 hours a week as a teacher at a prestigious private school
- A Queensland woman pleaded guilty to scamming Centrelink over four years
- Madonna Maria De Vries claimed carer's payments while husband was working
- She returned the money but the judge said: 'You can't pay your way out of jail'
A former teacher who rorted $93,000 in carer's payments from Centrelink over four years claimed she didn't know her husband was actually still working.
Madonna Maria De Vries received the cash between 2014 to 2018 while her 'sick' husband Dylan De Vries was working as a maths and science teacher at a $7,738-a- term private school on the Gold Coast.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception when she faced Brisbane District Court on Tuesday, but maintained she had no idea her husband was heading off to The Southport School for 35 hours a week, The Courier Mail reported.
![Madonna Maria De Vries (pictured) rorted $93,000 in carer's payments from Centrelink over four years](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/19/01/43156205-9593705-Madonna_Maria_De_Vries_pictured_rorted_93_000_in_carer_s_payment-a-2_1621384252555.jpg)
Madonna Maria De Vries (pictured) rorted $93,000 in carer's payments from Centrelink over four years
De Vries' lawyer Matt Jackson told the court her husband said he was doing charity work when he left the home during that period.
She also claimed she was unaware he had a separate personal bank account.
Authorities uncovered the scam in 2018, when Mr De Vries was found to be receiving a disability support pension for himself while earning a salary.
The court heard De Vries had legally received carer's payments during 2011 when her husband was involved in a serious car accident and developed post traumatic stress disorder.
He had also suffered from a major depressive disorder for 10 years and died in 2018.
Mr Jackson told the court De Vries her niece also took her own life in 2017 and lost three sisters to breast cancer in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
![Authorities uncovered the scam in 2018, when Mr De Vries (pictured) was found to be receiving a disability support pension for himself while earning a salary.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/19/01/43156211-9593705-Authorities_uncovered_the_scam_in_2018_when_Mr_De_Vries_pictured-a-1_1621384252063.jpg)
Authorities uncovered the scam in 2018, when Mr De Vries (pictured) was found to be receiving a disability support pension for himself while earning a salary.
![Ms De Vries was receiving care benefits while her husband was working as a maths and science teacher at The Southport School - a $7738 a term private school on the Gold Coast in Queensland (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/19/01/43156209-9593705-Ms_De_Vries_was_receiving_care_benefits_while_her_husband_was_wo-a-8_1621382710828.jpg)
Ms De Vries was receiving care benefits while her husband was working as a maths and science teacher at The Southport School - a $7738 a term private school on the Gold Coast in Queensland (pictured)
Although De Vries has already repaid the $93,288 she fleeced from Centrelink, using money she received from her husband's life insurance, Judge Julie Dick said: 'You can't pay your way out of prison.'
Judge Dick warned taking money out of community funds is a crime that affects every Australian.
'She had deliberately filled out forms incorrectly to claim the benefits over four and a half years and as an intelligent ex teacher she would have been aware of her obligations,' the judge said.
She sentenced De Vries to a two-year suspended sentence with immediate release on a $1000 three-year good behaviour bond.
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