Former Financial Manager of Raukura Waikato Social Services Trust Pleads Guilty to Fraud

The former financial manager of a tax-payer funded social services provider has pleaded guilty to defrauding the entity of about $60,000.

Hemo Thompson pleaded guilty in the Hamilton District Court today to all 68 charges she faces, which comprise of one charge of ‘Obtaining by Deception’ and 67 charges of ‘Theft in a Special Relationship’.

Ms Thompson obtained funds from Raukura Waikato Social Services Trust over a four year period from November 2010 to November 2014 and disguised the activity as genuine expenditure. The payments came in the form of 68 separate deposits.

Raukura Waikato Social Services Trust is currently in liquidation.

SFO Director, Julie Read said, “Hemo Thompson had control over the Ruakura funds and knew the terms upon which she was allowed to deal with those funds. She intentionally departed from those terms to conduct this activity for her own personal benefit.”

Ms Thompson will reappear in the Hamilton District Court on 1 June 2018.

ENDS

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