A Christchurch woman with power of attorney over an intellectually disabled woman has today admitted stealing more than $110,000 over six years to fund her pokies gambling habit. The 66-year-old problem gambler, who has interim name suppression, had enduring power of attorney over the woman from 1997 to February last year, Christchurch District Court heard. But between May 2009 and February 18 last year, she made 450 fraudulent transactions from the victim’s bank accounts, the police summary of facts says. The majority of the transactions were made at bars, taverns, and gaming establishments around Christchurch, the West Coast of the South Island, and Auckland. In 2013, the woman broke four-term deposits and deposited a bank cheque into her personal bank account. Judge Jane Farish called for a reparation report ahead of sentencing on September 20.
June 28, 2016
A SkyCity worker has admitted stealing more than $45,000 of casino chips from his former employer. For nearly a month Chandra Komati Reddy, 34, swiped the tokens and handed them on to associates who would cash them in; before the funds were split between the men. The Mt Roskill man appeared in Auckland District Court this afternoon where he admitted multiple charges of theft by a person in a special relationship. Judge Nevin Dawson said he may have got away with it had it not been for the stringent security protocols employed by the casino. Reddy has since been dismissed by SkyCity.
June 9, 2016
Racing & Wagering Western Australia is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) lodged by an ex-staffer (Musiello).
June 6, 2016
Bingo Industries is to face a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) lodged by an ex-staff member (Weir).
May 13, 2016
Crown Melbourne Ltd has to face two s.372 (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) lodged by the duo Jenkin and Petricevic.
May 9, 2016
A worker who had to pay $1000 from her own pay packet after money was found missing from the float for gaming machines has won a claim of personal grievance and unfair dismissal. Julie Hills worked at Cafe de Paris, a Palmerston North hotel, until she was dismissed in August last year. She took a claim to the Employment Relations Authority that she was unjustifiably dismissed from her position and alleged she had been underpaid and money had been deducted from her wages. Hills told the ERA that during her employment the issue of deficiencies in gaming machines in the hotel were raised and staff were made aware that any “downfalls” would be deducted from staff’s wages. Hills had $44 deducted from her pay in November 2014 when during her shift there was a shortfall in the gaming machines. In February 2015 she was called to a disciplinary meeting and told the gaming machines were down $1000. Hills told the ERA she signed notes of the meeting, which included an agreement to pay back the $1000, under duress. The $1000 would be paid back by cashing up seven days’ outstanding leave and paying the balance from her wages, the meeting’s notes said. Member of the Authority Michael Loftus accepted Hills only agreed to the measure of deducting the money from her wages under duress, and found the deduction of pay was unauthorised. Hills was dismissed during a time when the hotel had experienced a damaging fire and was closing. There were concerns that her partner may have removed items from the hotel without authority to do so, as well as problems with the manager of the hotel trusting her. Ultimately, Loftus found Hills had been unjustifiably dismissed. “There are too many factors which influenced this decision which were either not put to Ms Hills or for which there is no evidence she was accountable,” Loftus said. Hills was awarded $3200 in lost wages and wages deducted for gaming machine shortfalls and $6000 compensation for hurt and humiliation.
May 5, 2016
Racing & Wagering Western Australia is facing a s.394 (application for unfair dismissal remedy) lodged by an ex-staff member (Musiello).
