Queensland homeless charity founder Jean Madden charged with fraud
The founder of a homeless charity and former Young Australian of the Year finalist has been charged with fraud, after she allegedly racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in unapproved expenses.
Jean Madden, 36, has been charged with one count of dishonestly causing detriment. She is to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Jean Madden is a former Young Australian of the Year who has been charged with fraud. Photo: Facebook
Madden was a Young Australian of the Year finalist in 2010 on the back of her work with Street Swags, which provides a "durable form" of bedding for the homeless.
She announced she was resigning as Managing Director of Street Swags on May 19.
"I am no longer the Managing Director of Street Swags," she wrote on Facebook. "I have also resigned as a director of the board."
Madden designed the Street Swags bedding, of which more than 50,000 have been distributed by the not-for-profit charity.
Jean Madden announced she was resigning as Managing Director of Street Swags on May 19. Photo: Facebook
The Street Swags website states the business was closed because of management issues.
"Street Swags is closed for business until the management issues can be resolved and a full audit of the company finances can be undertaken," the website reads.
Madden also posted a video on the site addressing the fraud claims, saying they are defamation.
"To have misappropriated $441,000, which is what I'm being accused of, is physically impossible," she states in the video.
Photo: Facebook
However, the organisation claims that they "are NOT closed for business" and their website has in fact been "hacked".
"We are aware of media reports that Street Swags is closed for business," a Facebook statement read.
"We are NOT closed for business."
"Our website and e-mail systems have been hacked over the weekend. We are working to resolve this immediately."
"Our bank accounts are secure. In the meantime, there are legal proceedings in process and for this reason, we cannot comment any further."
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