Perth couple charged with $1.5m fraud

A Perth doctor and his accountant wife have been accused of defrauding the West Australian Health Department to the tune of $1.5 million.

The Corruption and Crime Commission alleges the 50-year-old understated his earnings at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in documents used to determine money to be paid to the hospital for equipment, facilities and services.

He allegedly concealed income by telling staff not to bill Medicare for some services, by billing Medicare directly with payments going into his company's bank account, and by directing Medicare benefit cheques to be forwarded to his home address.

The alleged offending happened over four years from 2009-10 and 2012-13, resulting in a shortfall to the WA Health Department of $1,589,422.

The CCC said his 49-year-old wife maintained the accounts of the company, including a bank account into which the concealed funds were paid.

She is accused of certifying her husband's annual statements of earnings, knowing they were inaccurate.

They have each been charged with four counts of fraud.

Both are scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on December 30.