Scientist on Great Barrier Reef research body alleged to have fabricated expenses

Daniel Alongi accused of scamming more than half a million dollars by claiming non-existent purchases and analysis over seven years

A senior scientist at Australia's key research body on the Great Barrier Reef is alleged to have fabricated research expenses worth more than half a million dollars and has been arrested on fraud charges, the Australian federal police say.

Daniel Alongi, 59, is accused of duping the taxpayer-funded Australian Institute of Marine Science (Aims) into paying him $556,508 for non-existent purchases of "radioisotopes" and laboratory analysis of reef sediment over seven years.