June 28, 2012

Bank making checks after employing fraudster

By Anne Clarkson

A bank is conducting security checks after fears that a convicted fraudster has had access to a database containing information on individuals’ accounts after allegedly getting a job under a false name.

The woman, aged about 40, has been on home detention but it is believed she has breached that sentence by getting a bank job without approval from her probation officer. She was said to be in a position of trust at the bank.

She is charged with obtaining a financial advantage – the employment – by deception.

She appeared before Judge Philip Moran in Christchurch District Court today and was remanded in custody to July 12. No application for bail was made.

Defence counsel Tony Garrett said it was not an offence to change your name, but there was an allegation that incorrect details had been given when the bank carried out a security check at the time of her employment.

The hearing was adjourned for two weeks for further inquiries by the police into possible fraudulent activities, while the bank makes its own checks.

The woman was sentenced to a year’s home detention last year on a series of dishonesty charges.

She does not have name suppression but her name cannot be reported here because of the references to her criminal record.