A Mosgiel woman who stole $38,000 from her employer by fraudulently using refund payment request forms, was sentenced to five months' home detention and 150 hours' community work.
Kristen Judith Collins, 40, unemployed, had admitted dishonestly using a refund payment request form in the name of BASF Ltd for financial gain between August 10, 2012 and June 19 last year, .
When she entered her guilty plea, in January this year, the court heard funds of $22,508.28 had been returned to the company. And yesterday in the Dunedin District Court, Judge Kevin Phillips was told she had paid the $15,492.46 balance.
Collins was employed by PGG Wrightson Ltd in its accounts receivable department and, four times, between August 2012 and June last year, she filled out refund payment request forms which she gave to a colleague for processing.
The forms were used regularly by the company to refund money to customers, the police summary said. But Collins put her own bank account number on the four forms and the transactions were processed, transferring a total of $38,000.74 from PGG Wrightson to the defendant's account.
Judge Phillips said Collins had "majorly" breached the trust of her employer. The company had to carry out a detailed investigation. All staff in Collins' area had been under suspicion. Collins was a trusted staff member. Other staff felt rightly aggrieved and betrayed.
The victim impact statement said Collins cynically exploited her position of authority. The offending was sophisticated and premeditated.
Counsel Sasha Dolby said Collins "has taken this very seriously".
"She has not come up with an explanation for her behaviour. She has had issues. But so do others."
Collins understood it was not simply about the money. She acknowledged there had been loss in terms of investigation time and stress to her employers and colleagues.
"She is very remorseful," Ms Dolby said.
Judge Phillips noted Collins had led an exemplary life until she started offending against her employer. He took into account her guilty plea and that she had "fronted up" to restorative justice and made full reparation.
Home detention was no easy sentence, he said imposing a five-month term (with post detention conditions for six months to follow), and 150 hours' community work.
