Third Romanian held for ATM fraud | Northern Rivers News | Local News in Northern Rivers

Tim Howard | 17th June 2009

The Observer

THE third person involved in a Romanian ATM fraud team that allegedly ripped off Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour shoppers earlier this year has joined her partners in custody.

Petre Didina, 32, was mentioned in Grafton Local Court on Monday, along with Margareta Dobrica and Nicu Lixandru.

However, the hearing for all three has been adjourned until July 6, as the prosecution and defence lawyers agreed that they needed more time to prepare their cases.

The court heard that as well as the charges brought against Didina, Dobrica and Lixandru were also facing additional charges.

The alleged scammers first came to public notice in late March when Dobrica and Lixandru fronted Grafton Local Court after allegedly ripping off close to $22,000 from unsuspecting shoppers in the Clarence and Coffs Harbour areas.

Originally facing a total of 46 charges between the two of them, the trio now faces a total of 90 charges - mainly larceny and obtaining money by deception. All the amounts were under $2000.

The offences are alleged to have occurred between March 6 and March 24 this year and involved victims from the Grafton, Yamba, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie areas.

It is alleged that Dobrica and Lixandru would stand close to people as they used automatic teller machines or Eftpos facilities at stores and watch as they withdrew money or paid for items.

It was alleged they would then follow them and one would distract the person while the other stole their card.

It was alleged they would later use the card to make withdrawals from the cardholders' accounts.

Police evidence presented to the court said Lixandru, Dobrica and a third person whose whereabouts were unknown, arrived in Australia on February 20 this year on three month tourist visas.

Police said they had set up a task force to investigate the alleged crimes and at 4.35pm on March 27 they saw a car they were seeking heading over the Grafton Bridge. They were arrested without incident.

It is alleged that Dobrica and Lixandru have each transferred $15,000 into Romanian bank accounts since their arrival in Australia.

An interpreter is to be called to court at their next appearance to assist with translation.

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