Property

Mortgage fraudster sentenced

A woman behind a $3.9 million mortgage fraud scheme has been sentenced to 12 months’ home detention and 250 hours of community work today.

Wednesday, April 02nd 2014

Ramni Kumar pleaded guilty to 10 charges of dishonestly using a document, relating to 10 property transactions in 2010. Charges were brought by the Serious Fraud Office.

She used false documentation to get home loans for families who would not otherwise have been able to get mortgages.

Kumar then arranged for her contacts to buy the properties and sell them to those families, making a profit in the process.

SFO director Julie Read said: “The SFO is pleased to have brought the prosecution of Ms Kumar to a successful conclusion. The manipulation of mortgage lending systems is a serious form of fraud. Banks need to be able to rely on documents submitted in support of mortgage applications to ensure that costs are contained for all borrowers.”

Kumar’s associate, Vicki Ravana Letele, still faces 11 charges of dishonestly using a document and will go to trial on 18 August.

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ANZ Special	7.24
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