A 54 year-old Collie Woman has pleaded guilty to stealing around $466,000 from her former employer Musgrave Minerals.
Vivienne Carol Dormer appeared in Collie Magistrates Court via video link on Wednesday, July 29, where she pleaded guilty to ten counts of stealing as a servant.
The stealing offences occurred during an 18 month period from February 2013 to September 2014.
The money, which ranged from $915 to $300,000, was transferred to her bank account as well as those belonging to her ex-husband and brother.
Dormer had access to the money in her role as the personal assistant to the managing director and as the officer manager, where her duties included invoicing and payroll.
In a 2014 annual report statement to shareholders, Musgrave Minerals Chairman Graham Ascough said the company had flagged up the irregularities in transactions as consistent with fraudulent activities.
“A number of irregular transactions have come to the attention of the Board in preparing the financial statements for the Group,” he said.
“The Board is presently investigating these irregularities and has engaged independent assistance to review the matter.
“At the date of signing this report, the transactions are considered immaterial to the Group.”
In a release to shareholders in February this year, Musgrave Minerals Managing Director Robert Waugh said that investigations had been complete and an employee’s work had been terminated over the incident.
“The Board of Musgrave Minerals Ltd informs the market that investigations into a number of irregular transactions reported in the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2014, have now been completed.
“In addition, during the preparation of the Half Yearly Accounts as at December 31 2014, further discrepancies were discovered.
“Investigations undertaken to date indicate that the amount of funds involved is in the order of $466,000.
“The irregularities are consistent with fraudulent misappropriation of Company funds.
“An employee of the Company was suspended on September 19 pending these investigations and their employment subsequently terminated.
These irregularities were investigated by the Major Fraud Squad, Western Australia Police and their investigations are continuing.
Due to the irregular transactions the Company’s Cash balance shown in the ASX Quarterly were corrected and the amended amounts disclosed to shareholders. “The Directors of Musgrave are considering various avenues for recovery of the funds and to date approximately $34,000 has been returned to the Company,” Mr Waugh said.
“Musgrave will keep the market informed of the progress of these efforts.”
Dormer is currently on bail and will appear in Bunbury Magistrates Court on November 16.
