A treasurer who stole more than $30,000 from the Wairarapa A and P Society was yesterday sentenced to six months home detention and ordered to pay back $10,000.
David Mullany, 68, of Carterton, had been convicted of stealing $32,000 by fraudulently cashing cheques, plus almost $9000 in international phone and internet
calls, and at least $8000 in campground fees and firewood sales.
The Masterton District Court had heard that between August 2005 and November 2008, Mullany had controlled all the society's financial dealings as secretary-treasurer. He had tried to cover up the deception by not submitting the society's tax records for audit in 2006 and 2007. He had used the dishonestly gained money to pay for three Nigerian internet scams that had promised up to US$26million ($35.8million) in return, and also for mortgage payments on his house.
Mullany's lawyer Ken Daniels said in the court yesterday that Mullany had lost his house in a mortgagee sale, and had no income but his superannuation, but could pay $50 a week in reparation.
Mr Daniels said Mullany had totally opened all the records he could to police and had pleaded guilty as soon as he was able.
He said his client had "shown a great deal of remorse, not only Mr Mullany but also his wife".
"His whole family has been deeply hurt, which, of course, is usual in these cases ... he understands the full import of what he has done."
Judge Chris Tuohy noted that the number of cheques misused was disputed and that the bank had paid the money back to the A and P society.
That was because the misused cheques had not been presented with the right number of signatures, so "the bank has been the loser in that offending rather than A and P".
Judge Tuohy said volunteers at the A and P Society had been emotionally affected by the loss, having given their time and energy.
The judge said reparation was a criminal penalty and needed a time limit, which he set at four years, ordering Mullany to pay $10,000 reparation at the offered amount of $50 a week from his superannuation.
