A 38-year-old man was yesterday arrested on multiple charges after fraud and property damage was carried out in Palm Cove across the past year.

Smithfield and Edmonton CIB detectives charged the Freshwater man after their investigations uncovered a host of fraudulent activities that had taken place from July last year.

Police allege the man failed to pay for accommodation, received money for contract work which was not finished, failed to pay employees, used false ID, forged documents and damaged a property at McDonald Close, Palm Cove, on Tuesday (June 17).

He was charged with 19 offences including wilful damage, fraud by dishonestly making off without paying, fraud by dishonestly inducing delivery of property, forgery, fraud by dishonest application of property of another, stealing by employers, fraud by dishonestly gaining benefit/advantage and breach of bail.