A real estate agent appeared in court today accused of stealing $70,000 from a kids' ice hockey club.
Karen Van Der Werf, 45, faces 16 charges of embezzling cash from the Canterbury Minor Ice Hockey Association while acting as the group's trusted clerk.
The charges allege that the Christchurch-based womantook the money over a six-year period.
She made her first appearance at Christchurch District Court sitting at the Nga Hau e Wha marae today for a registrar's remand until November 1, without plea.
The 16 charges allege that between January 2001 and November 2006 she stole a total of $69,755.43 from the non-profit organisation. The sums of money involved in each charge range from $115 to $34,332,25.
Canterbury Minors Ice Hockey (CMIH) is the governing body for all officially sanctioned junior ice hockey in Canterbury for boys and girls aged between five and 17.
A spokesman for the volunteer-run group said today: "We are aware of the case but cannot comment at this stage."
