BITTER SPLIT REVEALS INSURANCE SCAM:
Crime discovered when couple involved in bitter split
A MUM-and-dad couple staged a burglary at their Bannockburn home as part of an elaborate scheme to receive an insurance payment, a court has heard.
Louise Posterino and her partner, Michael Posterino, took more than $16,000 worth of items from the newly built property and hid them in a storage shed.
Before calling the police, the couple pulled open drawers and other furniture to make it look like someone had broken into the home.
A crowbar was also used to break the lock on a back door.
The pair later received a $20,000 payout from an insurance company for the items they had reported stolen.
The Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard the fake burglary took place in December 2013, but only came to light last year following a bitter marriage breakdown between the pair.
Louise Posterino divulged details about the ruse after Michael Posterino raised suspicions with police that she was responsible for a caravan fire at his property.
She was fined $3000 yesterday after pleading guilty to making a false report to police and obtaining financial advantage by deception.
The court heard the items taken from the Moreillon Boulevard home included furniture, computers, iPads, Geelong Football Club memorabilia, jewellery and two paintings depicting Paris.
The Paris paintings were discovered in Michael Posterino’s lounge room when police raided his home last May — more than five years after the reported burglary.
During a police interview, Louise Posterino blamed her partner for the scheme.
“It was Michael who wanted to do it and he just wanted to get the most out of it,” she told officers.
Defence lawyer Wendy Gibbons, for Louise Posterino, said the offending took place while her client was in a “controlling” relationship at the hands of her former partner.
“He’s been the primary driver of all of this,” Ms Gibbons said. “It was all about money for him and looking good in front of his friends.”
The court heard Louise Posterino, now 40 and living in Lara, had recently been accepted to be a flight attendant for Virgin Australia, though the position was dependent on a criminal record check.
Ms Gibbons urged the court to not impose a conviction on the mother of two, noting it could ruin her hopes of landing the job.
Magistrate Franz Holzer acknowledged Posterino was otherwise of good character, but said a conviction was warranted.
“I think you could’ve extricated yourself from the situation,” Mr Holzer said. “You’ve got to make better choices.”
Michael Posterino was previously convicted and fined $5000 for his role in the scam.