CEO found guilty of stealing over $114k

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The former chief executive of the Kokiri Training Centre in South Dunedin has been found guilty of taking more than $114,000 from the non-profit Maori organisation.

Lynette Anne Collins-Watson (59), of Dunedin, had pleaded not guilty to five offences committed between January 2009 and February last year.

Collins-Watson appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips in the Dunedin District Court.

In a reserved judgement, Judge Phillips found her guilty of one charge of theft of $27, 935 by a person in a special relationship, and another of theft of $86,496 by a person in a special relationship.

The offending was against the Arai Te Uru Kokiri Centre Charitable Trust, which funds the learning centre.

During the trial in May, the court heard Collins-Watson claimed $86,496 remuneration she was not entitled to, disguising money being paid into her account as having been paid to Te Wananga o Aotearoa (a large educational provider).

She also paid herself and her daughter $27,935 wages for cleaning that did not occur.

While Collins-Watson was found guilty on those charges, Judge Philips dismissed a charge she retained a mobile phone worth $985 without the consent of Kokori, and charges of theft of $6317 and $2659 by a person in a special relationship.

Collins-Watson will be sentenced on November 23.