Sentencing delay in quake hardship fraud case
The Red Cross will get a chance to say how a woman’s fraudulent quake hardship claims affected it ahead of her sentencing next week in the Christchurch District Court.
The sentencing for 40-year-old Donna Marie Paish, also known as Nikita Victoria Burns, was put off for eight days when it was called before Judge Michael Crosbie today.
The judge delayed it so that the Ministry of Social Development could prepare sentencing submissions for its own prosecutions and for the police charges relating to the Red Cross.
Submissions will also be required from Paish’s defence counsel, Cindy Lee.
Judge Crosbie told the police that the delay would also allow the police to approach the Red Cross for a victim impact statement in which they could say how the offending had affected them.
Paish faces sentencing for making fraudulent hardship claims for multiple addresses after the Christchurch quakes which resulted in the Red Cross paying out $19,000, as well as benefit fraud charges totalling $13,000.
There is also a charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
She has pleaded guilty to these charges, and has been on bail pending sentence.
She was granted renewed bail ahead of the sentencing which has now been set for February 25.
Category: News
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