A man has been charged with falsely claiming he was injured in the massacre of 15 people at a Sydney Hanukkah gathering last year, allegedly in an attempt to secure victims’ compensation. Meanwhile, proceedings against an alleged attacker were adjourned until next year on Wednesday.
The 46-year-old man was charged in Sydney on Tuesday with publishing misleading material to obtain a financial advantage and making a false representation that prompted a police investigation, according to a police statement issued Wednesday.
The man, whose identity has not been released, allegedly claimed he was wounded at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, 2025, when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd. The attack killed 15 people, aged between 10 and 87, and injured about 40 others.
Police granted the alleged fraud suspect bail. He is due to appear in a Sydney court on Nov. 18, the statement said.
Trial for alleged perpetrator delayed
Police shot one of the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, dead during the attack. His son, Naveed Akram, was wounded and is now 25.
Authorities allege the pair were inspired by the Islamic State group.
Naveed Akram appeared in a Sydney court on Wednesday facing 78 charges, including 15 counts of murder, 43 counts of attempted murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
Akram has not yet entered a plea.
Police said the alleged fraudster’s claim to have been a victim “will have no impact on the matters currently before the court.”
Judge Karen Stafford granted Prosecutor Danielle New’s application to adjourn the case until Feb. 24.
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The defense did not oppose the adjournment.
New told the court that prosecutors needed additional time to consult victims and their families before the charges could be certified.
The charge certification process formally determines which allegations will proceed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales for trial.
Police say man accused of fraud attempted to claim victims’ compensation
Police have not said which payments under the victims of crime compensation scheme the suspect allegedly sought to obtain.
The state government offered Bondi attack victims up to $3,500 for injuries, while relatives of those killed were eligible for up to three times that amount.
Victims were also offered as much as $21,000 to cover economic losses.
Further financial assistance was made available for urgent health-related expenses.
The allegation that someone tried to profit from the Bondi tragedy has shocked members of Sydney’s Jewish community.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, called the alleged fraud despicable.
“To use police resources when we need police investigating matters and keeping us safe nearly a year on, when we still have security challenges in the community and wider society, … is something despicable and we all have to condemn it,” Ryvchin told Nine Network television.
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