Australian police arrest Indian man for faking Bondi Beach injury

A special government fund created to support survivors of a mass shooting in Sydney has drawn scrutiny after police charged a man with fabricating his injuries. New South Wales Police announced on Wednesday that they arrested a 46-year-old Indian national for allegedly lying about being wounded in the December 2025 attack on Bondi Beach. The man, identified by The Daily Telegraph as Simaxwell Cyril, is suspected of inventing a shrapnel wound to secure financial aid meant for genuine victims.

The arrest occurred during a separate homicide squad inquiry into police conduct during the December 14, 2025 shooting. Detectives were gathering evidence for that internal review when they noticed inconsistencies in Cyril's account of how he was injured. He claimed he had been struck by shrapnel during the attack, which killed 15 people and injured approximately 40 others. Police did not disclose the specific amount of money Cyril sought in his fraudulent claims, but the suspected fraud prompted a formal charge.

Cyril was taken into custody on Tuesday morning at a police station in Parramatta, a suburb in western Sydney. Authorities charged him with publishing false or misleading information to obtain a benefit. They also charged him with making a false representation that led to the start of a police investigation. He was released on bail with restrictive conditions and is scheduled to appear at Parramatta Local Court on November 18. This court date falls less than two months after the announcement of his charges.

The financial incentives for victims come from a joint assistance program run by the Australian federal and New South Wales state governments. Eligible individuals wounded by gunfire or shrapnel can receive a one-time payment of 35,000 Australian dollars. The program also provides recognition grants and covers medical expenses and financial losses. The investigation into Cyril is distinct from the terrorism case targeting the two men who opened fire on the Hanukkah celebration crowd.

Cyril's legal issues extended beyond the fraud charges. According to The Daily Telegraph, immigration authorities arrested him shortly after his release on bail. They suspected he had remained in Australia past the expiration of his visa. He has been transferred to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre and is expected to be deported. This move separates his immigration status from his criminal trial, which will proceed in local court.

The alleged fraud has sparked criticism within Sydney's Jewish community, which continues to process the trauma of the December massacre. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, called the incident an abhorrent act. Speaking to the Nine Network, Ryvchin argued that diverting police resources to investigate false claims detracts from the community's need for security protection. He emphasized that the incident requires condemnation from all sectors of society.

The original attack occurred on December 14, 2025, when Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 25, opened fire on attendees of a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach. Fifteen people died, with ages ranging from 10 to 87. Police shot and killed the father, while the son was wounded and arrested. Naveed Akram now faces 78 charges, including 15 counts of murder, 43 counts of attempted murder, and committing a terrorist act. Judge Karen Stafford postponed a hearing in his case on Wednesday to February 2027. This delay allows time for consultations with victims and their families. Police confirmed that the investigation into Cyril will not affect the proceedings against Akram.