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A former Invercargill accountant has been sentenced to 2-1/2 years' jail for stealing more than $300,000 from his clients.
Warren Haggerty was sentenced in Invercargill District Court yesterday on seven charges of money laundering, 40 of using a document for pecuniary advantage and seven of providing false tax returns between 2003 and 2006.
Haggerty had been working for Ward Wilson chartered accountants when he stole about $302,000, the Southland Times reported.
Judge Kevin Phillps said Haggerty's theft had harmed his former colleagues, clients and people who trusted him. "They will feel the effects of this for years to come."
Defence lawyer Bill Dawkins said Haggerty was in debt and struggling to maintain what was a "very austere lifestyle".
Judge Phillips rejected that claim, suggesting instead Haggerty knew he was not going to become partner at the firm and took what he thought was owed to him.
"You thought about it and did it again and again."
Haggerty had his clients paying tax on a higher income, then pocketed the tax return and also filed false tax returns for him and his wife.
He had already repaid $162,000 and no reparation was sought.
Haggerty has already been struck off by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
- NZPA
