Man charged with faking a Bondi Beach attack injury to claim victim compensation

The compensation claim

Police in New South Wales said detectives had identified a 46-year-old man who allegedly gave false accounts of being hurt in the Bondi Beach shooting and then sought compensation linked to it. He was arrested on Tuesday, 27 October, and charged with publishing misleading material to obtain a financial advantage, as well as with a false representation that led to a police investigation. Released on bail, he is due before a Sydney court on 18 November. Police have not named him or said which victims of crime compensation scheme he targeted.

The state government had set payment levels for Bondi victims of up to AU$5,000 for people injured, three times that sum for relatives of those who died, and up to AU$30,000 for economic loss. Separate help was available for urgent medical bills. Members of Sydney's Jewish community reacted with dismay to the claim that someone had tried to profit from the tragedy.

Injured victims (up to)5,000

Economic loss (up to)30,000

Injured victims (up to)

5000 AU$

Economic loss (up to)

30000 AU$

Data from the article text

The case against Naveed Akram

On 14 December 2025 two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people aged 10 to 87 and wounding around 40. Police shot Sajid Akram, 50, dead at the scene. His son Naveed Akram survived a shootout with police and has been charged with 78 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 43 of attempted murder and one of committing a terrorist act. Police allege the father and son drew inspiration from Islamic State. Naveed Akram has not entered a plea.

He was charged with 59 offences in December, and 19 more were added in April as the investigation progressed. On Wednesday, 28 October, Judge Karen Stafford granted an adjournment to 24 February 2027 after prosecutor Danielle New said more time was needed to consult victims and next of kin before the charges are certified. The defence did not object. Certification is the step that fixes which counts go forward to trial before the NSW Supreme Court.

Prosecutors' account of the evidence

New told the court the brief of evidence was now complete, although its volume had caused delays. It includes thousands of witness statements, medical records, financial statements, records of purchases made by the Akrams, and footage from Bondi Beach on the evening of the attack. She said prosecutors did not want to rush the consultations, which were taking place as Hanukkah approached, the Christmas period and the courts' summer shutdown.

“It's important the crown goes over everything again, to make sure no person's narrative is left untold.”

New also described the scale of the work carried out by investigators.

“The joint counter terrorism team has engaged in an investigation the size of which has been unprecedented.”

The certification stage will decide which charges against Naveed Akram proceed, and the next court date is set for 24 February 2027.