ECan staff admit $82k theft from bus cards

Two former clerks employed at Christchurch's central bus exchange have admitted stealing more than $82,000 in cash from their employer, the regional council Environment Canterbury (ECan).

Catherine Anne Ihaka, 55, and Amelia Taima Temo, 23, pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court today to three representative charges of theft by a person in a special relationship.

The charges allege that the offending occurred while they worked at the Bus Exchange over a 20-month period up to April 2009. The women resigned shortly after the thefts were uncovered.

Temo admitted a charge of theft of $28,365. Ihaka admitted stealing $6626. They both also pleaded guilty to a joint charge of stealing $47,649.

The thefts relate to the pool of money held by ECan as unspent deposits on Metrocards. That loss is covered by insurance so ratepayers' funds are protected.

An unorthodox Metrocard transaction alerted ECan to the thefts in April 2009, which led to an investigation by a forensic accountant.

Closed-circuit cameras, which monitor activities at the bus exchange, enabled ECan to track the transactions quickly once it became aware of discrepancies, said ECan director of operations Wayne Holton-Jeffreys.

Systems for putting cash onto Metrocards at the Bus Exchange had been change since mid-2009 to prevent any reoccurrence of the thefts, he said.

Counsel for Temo, Pip Hall, said the total amount taken was not disputed, but discussions were expected before sentencing about the amount each of the women owed.

Judge Colin Doherty called for reports to assess both women's suitability for a home or community detention sentence.

He also asked for a victim impact report about the effects of the offending on ECan.

The pair were remanded on bail to April 29 for sentencing.

- NZPA