GP jailed for $360,000 Medicare fraud wins appeal

Queensland GP Dr Tony Bakare was released from jail last week after spending nine months behind bars for a $360,000 Medicare fraud
Geir O'Rourke
Dr Tony Bakare
Dr Tony Bakare. Photo: AAP

A GP has been released from prison after a court of appeal set aside his conviction for defrauding more than $360,000 in Medicare rebates.

Dr Tony Bakare was jailed for four years back in February when a jury found him guilty of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The jury was told the Brisbane GP, who ran four practices across the Gold Coast, made some 4000 false MBS claims between 2014 and 2017.

Many of the claims, submitted through Medicare’s Health Professional Online Services system, allegedly involved patients who were dead.