Fraud, fake holdup lead to jail term

THE 45-year-old licensee of a West Coast post office will spend up to 18 months in jail after faking a holdup at the store in which she bound her own hands with cable ties.

Diyan Margaret Butters pleaded guilty to one count of computer-related fraud and one count of stealing, following the embezzlement of more than $75,000 from Australia Post.

In sentencing Butters, Justice Michael Brett said the defendant had operated a cafe at Rosebery, as well as the Rosebery Post Office.

The court heard that following the death of Butters’ husband in 2015, the cafe went into decline, and the widow was desperate to keep it running to honour her husband’s memory and keep staff employed.

“As licensee of the post office, you had the authority to conduct banking services on behalf of Australia Post,” Justice Brett said.

“In order to prop up the cafe business, you commenced to make false deposits into your bank accounts through the banking agency of the post office.

“Your account increased by the amount of the recorded deposits but you did not, of course, pay the corresponding cash to Australia Post. In practical effect, you were dishonestly acquiring money from Australia Post.

“In total, you dishonestly acquired the sum of $76,593.81 by way of this system.”

With pressure mounting from Australia Post over the outstanding funds, and with a scheduled Armaguard collection visit just days away, Butters hatched a plan to cover her tracks.

She removed from the post office safe the remaining cash — some $20,000 — before placing it in portable coolers and storing them at the house of her sister-in-law.

The relative agreed to receive the coolers only after being told they contained camping equipment.

Two days later, Butters arrived at the post office early in the morning, tied her hands with cable ties, and put her legs through her hands so her arms were behind her, and waited to be found.

She later told police she had been held up by two males, who had then tied her up before emptying the safe.

After the sister-in-law discovered the cash and contacted police, Butters admitted to her dishonesty.

Butters was convicted and sentenced to 18 months’ jail, with Justice Brett ordering that she serve at least half that term before becoming eligible for parole.