An alleged con artist accused of deceiving family violence and child sexual abuse support services has withdrawn an application for bail after police hit her with another 13 charges.
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Samantha Azzopardi was due to seek bail in a Heidelberg Magistrates Court hearing on Wednesday, charged with a single count of obtaining financial advantage by deception between September 4 and 9 this year.
Court documents allege she dishonestly obtained $18,837 by "portraying herself as being from Europe and in need of family violence and child sexual abuse support services" and that she obtained "accommodation, vouchers and medical costs from specialist family violence support services".
Her lawyer Rose George withdrew the bail application and revealed additional charges had been filed by Victoria Police on Monday.
A lengthy summary of Azzopardi's alleged offending had also been filed.
Ms George requested the case be adjourned until next month and also asked that the bail application not yet be re-listed.
Magistrate Cathy Lamble noted that Azzopardi being in custody reduced or eliminated her risk of further alleged incidents, though her concerns were not completely alleviated.
"The (police) narrative raises the concern of the affected person being contacted by a lawyer on behalf of Ms Azzopardi in circumstances where she was in hospital," she said.
Azzopardi, 35, appeared by videolink from Melbourne's women's prison, the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where she wore a blue prison jumper, a blue surgical mask and had her blonde hair tied into a bun.
She's expected to appear by videolink again on December 1.
Australian Associated Press
