Fraudster faces big jail term
A BLAST of summery weather will hit our region this weekend.
Although morning storms and showers are possible today, the afternoon should be sunny with a top of 31C.
Tomorrow might also see a shower or two before a warm top of 28C.
Pictured enjoying yesterday’s sunshine is little Ruben from Herne Hill, who cooled down at the waterfront with an ice cream or two.
Rhiannon Armstrong and two-year-old Billy (inset) were also making the most of the conditions at Eastern Beach. Pictures: MIKE DUGDALE A FORMER Geelong conveyancer who stooged ANZ out of $700,000 is facing the possibility of more than a decade behind bars.
In early 2016, Maria Alimic used fake pay slips to convince the bank to lend the money for a home she bought in partnership with her one-time boyfriend.
The Corio woman also tried claiming $250,000 from another lender on behalf of her ex-flame, despite him having no idea of her application.
Alimic appeared in the County Court in Melbourne yesterday after a jury last month found her guilty on two fraud charges, including obtaini taining financial advantage by dece deception. The maximum penalty she faces is 15 years’ jail.
Y Yesterday’s case was meant to b be the start of a plea hearing for the 52-year-old, but the ma matter was pushed back to M May after the court learned A Alimic had sacked her previous lawyers.
Her new barrister told Judge Paul Lacava that more time was needed to prepare her case.
It came as court documents obtained by the Geelong l Advertiser yesterday r revealed the lengths Alimic went to in her efforts to scam financial institutions.
Shortly before obtaining the l loan from ANZ, Alimic bought a Reservoir property for $880,000 as a business investment with her former partner.
The pair briefly dated nine years earlier but remained in occasional contact, with Alimic once telling the man she was making a “fortune” through her property investments.
Despite the Reservoir paperwork being in the man’s name, Alimic was in charge of settling the property and managing the loan application.
She instructed her assistant to draw up false pay slips that claimed her ex-partner was earning a $98,000 salary at a Melbourne dental clinic, even though he was earning far less elsewhere as a mental health nurse.
According to court documents, the man raised concerns about using the fake pay slips, but Alimic assured him it was “common practice” and that she had done similar for other clients.
The application was lodged in January 2016 and approved two months later. Then, in August that same year, Alimic turned her attention to an investment company to try to obtain a $250,000 loan in the same ex-partner’s name.
As part of the application, she put the man’s Hurstbridge property as security along with other assets.
But the investor became suspicious and alerted the man’s lawyer, who told him his client did not apply for the loan and had no knowledge of it.
Alimic was charged in October 2016. The mother of two will return to the County Court on May 20.