A care company director has denied submitting fictitious service invoices in order to fraudulently use the local council's Covid response fund.
At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, Caroline Hunt, 53, of St. Cleres Hall Lane, St. Osyth, entered a not-guilty plea to eight counts of fraud by false representation.
According to the prosecution, Ms. Hunt submitted fraudulent invoices totaling £151,000 to Essex County Council.
She was given unrestricted bail.
In order to "make a gain, namely unknown" for Hunt Healthcare Group, the county council claims that Ms. Hunt submitted evidence for payments from its Covid-19 response fund between May and October 2020 that was falsely represented as "representing genuine documentation.".
Four companies submitted invoices totaling £273,000 for services, according to prosecutor George Spencer-Jones.
He claimed that out of the £170,000 paid out, £151,000 was fraudulent.
The court was informed by Ms. Hunt's attorney, James O'Keefe, that "this defendant categorically denies the offenses.".
She would show up on March 16 at Chelmsford Crown Court for a plea hearing, according to district judge Christopher Williams.
