Rex Crane - P.O.W Fraud Sent To Jail

[dodger39]

VETERAN IMPOSTER REX CRANE PLEADS GUILTY

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, welcomed the outcome of the case against veteran imposter Arthur Rex Crane handed down in the Brisbane District Court today.

“Mr Crane has today pleaded guilty to defrauding the Commonwealth and ordered to pay back more than $413,000 for falsely claiming he was a prisoner of the Japanese during the Second World War,” Mr Snowdon said.

Mr Crane has been sentenced to four years jail and can be released after serving six months upon entering a good behaviour bond for four years.  He was also ordered to pay the Commonwealth more than $413,000 in falsely claimed pension.

“The Australian Government takes very seriously the recognition and respect of those who have served our country and has no tolerance for those who fraudulently claim that recognition,” Mr Snowdon said.

“The Department of Veterans’ Affairs works hard to ensure that veterans receive their lawful entitlements.  All allegations of fraud are investigated thoroughly.”

The Department has a dedicated compliance section that investigates all suspected cases of fraudulent activity.  Other ongoing measures that act as a deterrent are proof of identify checks, and departmentally initiated reviews.

“Incidences of fraud are very isolated and today’s sentence should be a warning about the serious penalties involved in defrauding the Commonwealth,” Mr Snowdon said.

http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/fake-prisoner-of-war-now-prisoner-of-the-state-20101221-193tk.html

 

[Michael OLeary]

Phoney POW pensioner put in prison

Brisbane man Arthur "Rex" Crane, who falsely claimed almost $700,000 in war service pensions, has been jailed for six months.

The former president of the Ex-Prisoners Of War Association claimed to have served as a teenage guerilla in Malaysia and to have been interned and tortured by the Japanese in 1942 when he was in fact at school in South Australia.

But after 22 years, his lie was uncovered by a military historian last year.

Crane, 84, pleaded guilty to defrauding the Commonwealth and obtaining a financial benefit by deception.

Today District Court Judge Marshall Irwin sentenced him to four years in jail, to be suspended after six months.

Mr Irwin said Crane was not motivated by financial gain but by wanting a place in society.

But he said that was not a justification for his sophisticated and calculated fraud.

Crane has an outstanding debt of more than $400,000, but it is unlikely to be fully recovered.

After his sentencing, Crane released a statement through his lawyers and apologised to prisoners of war and the Australian community.

More at link