Guilty of theft of client funds

Linnet Lewis, has pleaded guilty in the Rotorua District Court today to 16 charges of theft by a person in a special relationship.

A Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation resulted in criminal charges being laid against Ms Lewis in November 2013.

In 2004, Ms Lewis set up a business to assist people to manage their financial affairs. She acted as her clients’ agent or as a trustee for her clients’ trusts, thereby gaining complete control over her clients’ assets. Ms Lewis used that control to steal from her clients, in some instances using forged documents to commit the offences. Between 2005 and 2011 she stole approximately one million dollars.

SFO Director, Julie Read said, “Ms Lewis has committed a serious breach of trust against her clients, many of whom were vulnerable, elderly people with reduced capacity to manage their own affairs. The SFO is committed to prosecuting such offences which have the capacity to damage New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest and do business.”

Ms Lewis will reappear for sentencing on 19 June 2015.

ENDS

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