Farm kingpin faces charges for fraudulent abuse claims

A man named Fotis Frank Antonios has been arrested for allegedly leading a group that made false claims for compensation related to historical child sexual abuse. He is facing 21 charges, including inciting others to file these fraudulent claims. Antonios, 54, is accused of using a well-known law firm to submit a fake claim worth over $650,000 against the New South Wales government. This claim focused on supposed abuse he experienced at Mount Penang Boys Home in the late 1980s. Between 2020 and 2022, he allegedly gained around $244,000 after legal fees were deducted from the settlement. Police say that Antonios received payments for referring individuals to another law firm, where he supposedly encouraged them to make false statements about abuse. No law firms have been charged, and authorities have not claimed they were aware of the fraudulent nature of the claims. This case is part of a larger investigation involving 10 people connected to a "claims farming" ring. Police in New South Wales and Queensland made several arrests in February under a special operation. Authorities believe these "claim farmers" targeted vulnerable individuals, convincing them to file dishonest claims for compensation. Antonios and his co-accused are set to appear in court in Sydney on May 22. He has been denied bail.