Woman admits $173,000 thefts from employer
A 27-year-old mother admitted writing 86 cheques to herself, friends, and businesses worth over $173,000 on her employer’s account, in the Christchurch District Court today.
Kelly Jane Mackley was charged with theft by a person in a special relationship.
She was employed as an export sea freight clerk and assisted in the accounts department, where on January 24, 2013, she wrote a cheque to herself for $1010.
Between then and November 5 she wrote out a further 85 cheques either to herself, friends, or businesses, worth $173,318.
Defence counsel David Stringer said a small portion of the money had been recovered but
$168,108 was still outstanding.
He said Mackley had spent the money on household expenses, a trip to Australia, and to pay for clothing and expenses for a sports club.
Mackley had a bi-polar disorder, he said, but Judge Alistair Garland said a bi-polar disorder did not lead people to dishonesty.
Judge Garland told Mackley that it would help her if she could recover a large sum of the money before her sentencing, but if there was little opportunity for reparation she would likely be sentenced to prison.
He remanded her to February 28 on bail, and ordered a pre-sentence report that will cover her suitability for home detention.
Category: Focus
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Connect
Connect with us via: