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A Melbourne couple are suing a former federal police commander, claiming he maliciously defamed them in a press convention about an alleged multi-million greenback fraud.
Ola Ouda and Amgad Shehada allege Todd Hunter recognized them as two folks charged with severe dishonesty offences through the press convention on November 28, 2020.
Mr Hunter advised reporters the Australian Federal Police had arrested and charged a 42-year-old Doncaster East lady – the proprietor of a big Victorian household daycare supplier – and her 47-year-old companion.
He alleged the pair had defrauded the Commonwealth of tens of millions of {dollars} by registering “phantom youngsters” for childcare subsidies, in addition to claiming COVID-19 stimulus funds to which they weren’t entitled.
Mr Hunter advised reporters the lady and man used taxpayers’ cash to “fund grand and splendid existence”, saying they’d gone on abroad journeys and acquired a number of costly vehicles together with a Maserati.
Mr Hunter didn’t title Ms Ouda or Mr Shehada within the press convention however media later reported their names and confirmed their pictures of their tales.
The couple had been charged with the dishonesty offences on November 25, 2020, however the AFP dropped these offences 10 months later.
Ms Ouda and Mr Shehada are suing Mr Hunter for defamation, claiming he recognized them within the press convention and he made the feedback with malice.
The case has gone to trial within the Victorian Supreme Courtroom, with the jury on Monday listening to the audio of the total press convention.
They had been additionally proven 4 tv information studies from November 28, which recognized the couple, confirmed a reporter door-knocking their residence and clips of Mr Hunter’s feedback.
Ms Ouda broke down into tears and needed to depart the courtroom because the imaginative and prescient was performed.
Mr Shehada additionally held again tears as he stated the studies had been damaging and sensationalised.
“We didn’t deserve this therapy in any respect and we knew from day one we did completely nothing fallacious to warrant such a low assault,” he advised the jury.
“I used to be in a lot ache, I used to be in shock.”
Attorneys representing Mr Hunter will make their case to the courtroom later within the trial.
The listening to earlier than Justice John Dixon continues.
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