Worker steals thousands of dollars from employer

A Gold Coast mum who stole thousands of dollars from an IVF clinic she worked at has claimed she was driven to desperate measures by the city’s rental crisis.

Laura Darlene Rapana stole $6327.45 from Monash IVF at Southport between May 8 and July 6 last year, while she was working at the clinic.

Southport Magistrates Court was told the 40-year-old processed eight fake refunds to transfer the money into her own account.

Police prosecutor Nicole Conditsis said Rapana’s nowformer employer soon noticed the suspicious transactions and confronted her.

She said Rapana came clean as soon as she was questioned by both her workplace and later police, saying she was in a “tough financial situation” at the time.

Rapana appeared in court with a clean criminal history.

Defence lawyer Lisa Searing said the mother of two moved to Australia from New Zealand in 2007, and had escaped an abusive relationship.

She said Rapana largely worked in hospitality and was made redundant from her previous position in 2020 due to Covid, putting even more pressure on her living situation.

“It seems she found herself in a situation where her lease expired (and) she was basically told she had to move out … every real estate agent she approached wanted her to have between three and six months’ rent in advance,” Ms Searing said.

“The rents were hugely out of proportion for what she was looking at.

“In her words, she panicked and was desperate and she said she took the coward’s way out.”

Ms Searing said Rapana had already saved close to the full amount to pay back to the clinic.

The Coast woman was eager to avoid reporters outside the Southport courthouse, ducking behind a large pole to cover her face before eventually going back inside the building.

Rapana pleaded guilty to one count of stealing by clerks and servants.

She was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay full restitution.

No conviction was recorded.