Home detention for man who stole from needy kids

Adam Feeley, chief executive of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Photo / Dean Purcell

A man who stole $147,000 from a trust that intended to help disadvantaged Northland children has been sentenced to eight months' home detention and ordered to pay $20,000 reparation.

Arapeta Victor Hamilton, a former director and chief executive of Ngapuhi Iwi Social Services Limited (NISS), was found guilty of five charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), in June.

He defrauded Ngapuhi Iwi Social Services of $147,000 using the money for personal expenses, including mortgage repayments and investments in a nightclub.

The offending took place between 2000 and 2002.

In Auckland District Court this morning, Judge Graham Hubble said Hamilton was virtually in sole control of the trust, which received about $1 million a year from the Government.

"It was supposed to be for young Ngapuhi who were in trouble. A lot of the young people up there are desperately in need and that money was supposed to be for them."

SFO Acting Director Simon McArley said he hoped today's sentencing would provide some justice for those affected by Hamilton's actions.

"Mr Hamilton took advantage of his trusted position, to the detriment of both NISS and the wider community. This sentence should act as a deterrent as well as highlight the need for organisations to have clear fraud prevention policies in place," he said

- NZ HERALD ONLINE / NEWSTALK ZB / NZPA