A MAN from St George will face Toowoomba Magistrates Court on July 23 on fraud-related charges.
Following lengthy investigations into three applications to Queensland's Drought Relief Assistance Scheme for assistance, Major and Organised Crime Squad Rural (Charleville) officers charged the 43-year-old with two counts of fraud, one count of attempted fraud, 10 counts of forging documents and 10 counts of uttering forged documents.
Police allege the man submitted fraudulent claims to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries relating to the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate between 2013-17. As a result, $62,632.73 was paid while a further $32,630.62 was claimed but not paid, police claim.
Detective Inspector Troy Pukallus said investigations of this type will continue.
"Police will continue to work in partnership with other government departments to ensure that the integrity of any scheme designed to support our farmers is maintained and not criminally exploited by a very small number of people," Detective Inspector Pukallus said.