Money repaid in federal jobs scheme rip-off

EVERY cent of the money ripped off by three Far North employees of a national job and training organisation has been repaid to the Federal Government.

Catherine Ritchie, Linda Stephens and Jayson Stephens were charged with stealing more than $292,000 while working at Job Find, or parent organisation Angus Knight, which was due to be used to build a basketball court in an indigenous community.

Ms Stephens and son Jayson have both been handed fully suspended three-year jail sentences for their part in the scam.

Ms Ritchie was due to be sentenced yesterday, but it was adjourned for a month.

The stolen money had come direct from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet with the thefts taking place between March and June in 2015.

But Angus Knight chief executive Michael Hobday said the firm acted swiftly after learning of the fraud, paying the funds back to the Federal Government and referring the case to police.

“(We) decided to immediately repay all monies, totalling $292,809.40, back to the department on April 21, 2016 without being asked or directed by any external body,” he said. “The matters relating to the fraud were discovered by senior managers of Angus Knight as part of its governance checks and audit procedures.

“Angus Knight believes the swift actions by senior management have resulted in an excellent outcome and justice has been served.”

During Ms Stephens’ sentence on Wednesday the court heard the dealings came to light when the company’s former chief executive travelled to Cairns and asked her to meet him and “come clean with everything that happened”.

The court was told the basketball court project for Kowrowa was originally valued at about $189,000. This was distributed into the trio’s personal accounts. A second invoice was prepared for about $94,000.