EQC supervisors felt ‘duped’ by dishonest staffer
EQC supervisors say they felt manipulated and duped by staff member Epenesa Valavala who had a veneer of respectability while she was misusing the Commission’s cars, phone, and fuel cards.
The 24-year-old, who is now expecting a child, was sentenced to 140 hours of community work for her offending while she was regarded as an excellent employee.
Christchurch District Court Judge Jane Farish said at Valavala’s sentencing that she was seen as cheerful, engaging, and performing well.
“Your supervisors have now become aware that you were stealing, using cars and fuel cards, at the same time as having a veneer of respectability,” said the judge. “They feel responsible. They feel they were manipulated and duped by you.”
Valavala had pleaded guilty to three charges of unlawfully converting EQC cars to her own use, obtaining by deception, and dishonestly using a document.
She had planned to seek a discharge without conviction but abandoned that application.
When she no longer had her own car available, she used three EQC pool cars for her own transport for months. One was left on a roadside when it got a flat tyre and Valavala replaced the wheel with a space saver. The third car was found at her home.
She used an EQC cellphone, running up bills totalling $291, when her own phone stopped working.
She bought $200 of petrol using EQC fuel cards.
The offending caused the EQC to do a complete audit of their vehicles and their accounts which had been costly and had taken staff members away from their core business.
Judge Farish said the case had been widely reported which had caused her enormous difficulty. She might now return to work in Australia rather than stay in New Zealand. Her offending had brought great shame on her and her family.
Judge Farish said she hoped the 140-hour community work sentence would see her given work at an agency because she had skills which would help the community. She also ordered Valavala to repay $1034 to the EQC.
Category: Focus
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