A gym owner faked her own death to claim a nearly $500,000 insurance payout as part of an elaborate scheme where she posed as her own partner.
Karen Salšš¾ššd, 42, was arrested in March after filing the insurance claim in her partnerās name, falsely saying she had died in a car accident in Broome.
The claim included a series of fabricated documents, such as a death certificate, a Coronerās Court of Western Australia delegate letter, and an investigation record into a death, all of which were fake.
Karen Salšš¾ššd, 42, was arrested in March after filing the insurance claim in her partnerās name, falsely saying she had died in a car accident in Broome.WAFL
The insurance company then transferred $477,520.26 into a bank account that Ms Salšš¾ššd had set up in her partnerās name.
There is no suggestion her partner was involved in the crime.
The plot began to unravel when the fitness instructorās bank flagged and subsequently froze the suspicious account.
The plot began to unravel when the fitness instructorās bank flagged and subsequently froze the suspicious account that now had $477,520.26.9 News
In a desperate bid to access the funds, Ms Salšš¾ššd visited Palmyra Police Station with several forms of ID that had been certified by an officer in an unsuccessful attempt to unfreeze the account.
Approached by Nine News in a car park in Perth, she was asked: āWhy did you fake your own death?ā
Startled, she then replied: āWhat the hell? Who are you guys? Iām not talking to you guys.ā
When approached by a news channel, Salšš¾ššd said, āwhat the hell? Who are you guys? Iām not talking to you guys.ā9 News
The reporter went on: āHow did you think you could get away with it? Youāre charged with serious fraud offenses.ā
Ms Salšš¾ššd then responded, āIs this a joke?ā.
The former East Fremantle Sharks assistant coach and mother-of-two had been charged with gains benefit by fraud and intent to defraud knowingly using any record which is false and could face up to seven years in jail.
āIs this a joke?ā. Salšš¾ššd said when a reporter asked how she thought she would get away with the false claim.9 News
She pleaded guilty and her sentencing in the District Court is scheduled for next month.
Itās believed she runs an F45 gym in Perth.