Travel agent’s win after alleged $600k fraud
A travel agent has been granted bail after she was charged with conning clients out of more than $600,000.
Travel World Sydney director Zahra Rachid was arrested in June after a police investigation into reports that a travel agent had failed to honour bookings made by customers.
Police allege she cancelled bookings made by customers without their knowledge and failed to issue any refunds.
After the 53-year-old was arrested, additional disgruntled customers came forward with complaints.
Police allege she has swindled more than $600,000 out of would-be holiday-makers who engaged her services.
The travel agent is now facing 82 charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
On Wednesday, Ms Rachid appeared in the NSW Supreme Court to apply for bail after spending more than four months behind bars.
Crown prosecutor Brendan Donnelly told the court that Ms Rachid’s application was not opposed due to the anticipated delay in obtaining a “significant analysis” of her bank records.
Ms Rachid’s lawyer said the bail conditions proposed were “extremely strenuous” and would preclude his client from returning to work in the travel industry.
The Crown prosecutor accepted the risk of the 53-year-old committing further alleged fraud offences was mitigated by her not returning to run her business.
Justice Deborah Sweeney granted Ms Rachid bail with strict conditions, including a prohibition on leaving the house unless in the company of her daughter or a prescribed reason.
Under the bail conditions, the travel agent is forbidden from approaching an international point of departure and cannot hold a passport.
She has also been ordered to report to police every day and to possess only one phone, which cannot have any encrypted applications.
A surety of $400,000 has also been secured to ensure Ms Rachid attends court when required.