Two ECan staff admit $82,000 thefts

Two former clerks employed by Environment Canterbury at the Bus Exchange have admitted stealing $82,000 cash from their employer.

They pleaded guilty at a pre-trial call-over in the Christchurch District Court today and were remanded on bail by Judge Colin Doherty to April 29 for pre-sentence reports and sentence.

The judge also asked for a victim impact report about the effects of the offending on Environment Canterbury – the Canterbury Regional Council.

Catherine Anne Ihaka, 55, and Amelia Taima Temo, 23, pleaded guilty to three representative charges of theft by a person in a special relationship instead of the 194 charges they had originally faced.

The charges allege that the offending occurred over a 20-month period up to April 2009.

Temo admitted a charge of theft of $28,365. Ihaka admitted stealing $6626. They both also pleaded guilty to a joint charge of stealing $47,649.

Environment Canterbury said the women resigned in 2009, shortly after the thefts were uncovered.

The thefts relate to the pool of money held by Environment Canterbury as unspent deposits on Metrocards. That loss is covered by insurance so ratepayers funds are protected.

“Procedures for accounting for cash transaction deposits for Metrocards at the exchange have been tightened since these losses were discovered,” said Environment Canterbury director operations Wayne Holton-Jeffreys. “Closed-circuit cameras, which monitor activities at the bus exchange, assisted in compiling evidence.

“The systems in place enabled us to track these transactions quickly once we became aware of the discrepancies.”

Mr Holton-Jeffreys said that systems for putting cash onto Metrocards at the Bus Exchange had been altered since mid-2009 to prevent any reoccurrence.

Environment Canterbury was alerted to the thefts in April, 2009, by the observation of an unorthodox Metrocard transaction. This was followed up by a rigorous investigation by a forensic accountant.

Counsel for Temo, Pip Hall, said the total amount taken was not disputed, but discussions are expected before sentencing about the amount each of the women owes.

Judge Doherty called for reports to assess both women’s suitability for a home or community detention sentence.

Marty Robinson appeared for the crown.