Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Transport Accident Investigation Commission: Fraud payback will take 52 years

A former state servant who stole $284,000 from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission has avoided a jail term today.

Ropati Telea, 27, worked as an accounts administrator at the commission's Wellington office when he transferred $284,000 into seven different bank accounts associated with himself between February 2007 and February 2011. He transferred the money in 148 transactions.

He was sentenced to 10 months' home detention this afternoon in the Wellington District Court along with 300 hours' community work. He has been ordered to begin paying the amount he stole back at a rate of $100 per week and his parents have agreed to pay $10,000 reparation on his behalf within two weeks.

At that rate, the sum will take him 52 years to pay off, and he would be 79.

The commission investigates aviation, marine and rail incidents and accidents and has an annual budget of $3.9 million. It has said previously that Telea had used "intricate methods" to avoid internal checks and external audits.

Telea left his job in February this year to attend a Bible college in Auckland. Police were informed of suspect transactions in April and when they approached Telea, he admitted the fraud.

During sentencing today, Judge Susan Thomas said when Telea confessed he told police he used the money to make mortgage repayments.

"You say that you felt unable to tell people of the financial pressures you were under at the time ... You say it turned from a need into a greed."

Over thirty people from the Samoan community supported Telea in court from the public gallery today, including family members.

Judge Thomas said she accepted Telea was remorseful but said the offending was a breach of trust and premeditative.

"You obviously come from a very well respected family. Your parents are church leaders ... They feel disgust at it. However they will continue to support you."

Judge Thomas said Telea's financial liabilities were currently greater than his assets. The Collections Service would monitor Telea's financial situation in the future to see if he could increase his rate of reparation payments.

The commission could also take action through the Civil Court to recover the money, she said.

No comments:

Post a Comment