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The wife of former New Zealand Rugby League chairman Sel Bennett has been fined $23,000 for misusing pokie machine funds.
Ivy Bennett, 68, was found guilty in Auckland District Court in December on 23 fraud charges relating to the misuse of $131,000.
She was found not guilty on a further eight charges.
Judge Nicola Mathers today told Auckland District Court that Mrs Bennett was lucky to avoid a jail term.
She was arrested following a Serious Fraud Office investigation which also resulted in former Waipareira Trust chief financial officer Mike Tolich admitting 15 charges of forging invoices totalling $190,000.
- NZPA
