Details of fraud allegations faced by the cryptocurrency trader accused of killing his mother in her own home have been revealed.
Andre Zachary Rebelo, 26, remains behind bars three weeks after he was charged with the murder of his mother, Colleen Rebelo, 58, at her home in the affluent Perth suburb of Bicton in May 2020.
His long-time partner, Instagram influencer Gracie Piscopo broke her silence last week to express her utter shock about the allegations, telling her one million followers her sole focus is now on her three-year-old son Romeo.
Ms Rebelo’s death was not deemed suspicious as she had no obvious signs of injury until an investigation was launched into her son’s alleged fraudulent dealings.
It’s since been revealed that five months after Ms Rebelo died, her son first faced Fremantle Magistrates Court on six fraud offences.
Police alleged at the time Rebelo fraudulently tried to obtain $500,000 between May 1 and August 25 2020, according to October 2020 court transcripts, The West Australian reported. That charge was subsequently discontinued in September.
Rebelo still faces five charges of forgery with intent to defraud — which police allege involved forging a last will and testament for his mother just days after her death.
He is accused of signing documents relating to medical information, and with forging a record ‘namely an automated voice message purporting to be a person named ‘Noreena Sadou’ over three separate days in July, the publication reported.
Police also alleged Rebelo signed a ‘record of investigation into death’, which was dated July 29, 2020, and signed the name of WA Coroner Michael Jenkin.
Rebelo has pleaded not guilty to the five fraud charges and is due to stand trial in the WA District Court in December next year.
He remains behind bars for the murder charge and is next scheduled to face Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court next week.
Meanwhile Rebelo’s model partner broke her silence on Instagram last week.
‘I’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding for my absence,’Ms Piscopo wrote.
‘For the past two weeks I have been in a complete state of shock and utter disbelief and I am deeply affected by the allegations.
‘I am grateful for everyone who has reached out and sent love and support, this has been an extremely difficult time and my focus right now is the wellbeing of my son.
‘Thank you to everyone for also understanding and respecting my privacy. Romeo and I will get through this.’
Ms Piscopo told the The West: ‘I’m just focusing on my son right now’
