Woman guilty of $70k fraud

A former Whangamata Club office manager has been found guilty of fraud.

The former office manager at Whangamata Club has been found guilty of stealing more than $70,000 from her employer over a six-month period.

Jenna Maree Savage, 29, was found guilty of 10 counts of theft by a person in a special relationship by Judge Robert Wolff who delivered his reserved decision on Thursday.

At the start of her judge-alone trial, Savage admitted a further count of the same charge relating to 15 cheques totalling $3460 which were cashed at the club's bar but never banked.

Part way through the trial she was discharged on a further count of theft and Judge Wolff discharged Savage on two further counts which collectively totalled $23,873.

Savage stole from her employer in various ways between June 11, 2013 and December 16, 2013.

The reparation amount presently being sought totals $67,154.95 after Savage haD already repaid the $3460 of losses she admitted causing, the judge revealed.

Judge Wolff was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Savage was the only person who could have stolen the funds and also manipulated the Club's MYOB accounting system to try and cover the losses. Savage was remanded on bail pending sentencing on February 10.