Media365
An Indian man has been charged with fraud in Australia after he claimed injuries in the Bondi Beach terror attack and then sought compensation — only to the shock of investigators who found out that he was not at the attack site at that time on December 14, 2025. 46-year-old Simeswell Cyril, an Indian national, is now being held in Sydney immigration detention and will be facing deportation from the country because of his fraudulent compensation claim.Investigators said Cyril submitted false and misleading claims to secure tens of thousands of dollars meant for Bondi Beach terror attack survivors under a state government support scheme.Victims hit by gunfire or shrapnel in the attack are eligible for a $35,000 lump sum payment under a NSW government support scheme open to applications until December 2027.
Cyril was not in Bondi at the time of the attack
Police allege Cyril falsely claimed he was hit by shrapnel during the December 14 attack in which father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more.Cyril was also charged with making a false representation resulting in police investigation. Detectives alleged he was not in Bondi at the time of the attack.He was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court earlier this week. However, he was immediately intercepted and taken into custody by Australian Border Force officers. He was transferred directly to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, where authorities confirmed he faces deportation for overstaying his visa once his criminal matters are finalised before the courts.
‘To think that anyone would seek to exploit tragedy…’
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the allegations were “shocking” news to wake up to. “This is a despicable act, if it’s proven,” he told Nine Network. “To think that anyone would seek to exploit tragedy of this scale and cast themselves as a survivor or a victim when they weren’t there, and to use up police resources when we need police to be investigating matters and keeping us safe.“Nearly a year on, we still have a lot of security challenges in the community and wider society.”
