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The pictures that unravelled travel agent's cancer lie


A Sydney travel agent who lied about having cancer and siphoned money from his employer has escaped jail.

Tony Petrovski, a former employee of Imperial China Tours, swindled almost $430,000 and claimed he needed cash for treatment but it all came undone when he posted holiday photos on social media.

Over a five-year period he made 82 unauthorised transactions and moved money from three companies’ bank accounts into his own.

In 2016, Petrovski told his boss he was suffering from a rare, aggressive form of cancer and took 25 sick days.

Tony Petrovski swindled almost $430,000 and told his employer he was seeking treatment for cancer. Source: AAP
Tony Petrovski swindled almost $430,000 and told his employer he was seeking treatment for cancer. Source: AAP

He accepted cash payments from work and told them it was going towards his treatment.

Petrovski then posted pictures on his social media accounts before his boss asked about them.

Petrovski shared pictures of his holiday while he was meant to be sick. Source: 7 News
Petrovski shared pictures of his holiday while he was meant to be sick. Source: 7 News

“Why would you think I didn’t have my surgery?” he texted his boss.

The boss told Petrovski he had logged onto Facebook from the company’s computer.

Petrovski’s lawyer told the court he duped money from his boss due to the financial pressure of raising a family in Sydney. That’s despite the fact he lives in Wollongong.

The former travel agent’s boss said they noticed pictures were filed from the work computer. Source: 7 News
The former travel agent’s boss said they noticed pictures were filed from the work computer. Source: 7 News

Petrovski was sentenced to three years’ jail but will be allowed to serve his time in the community with 750 hours of community service.

He’s since repaid most of the money by selling assets and is now living at his in-laws’ house.

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