Home detention for daughter who swindled disabled father

A woman has been handed 10 months' home detention after swindling her disabled father of $75,000 to buy a car and pay off drug debts.

Helen Luanna Kiwara, 23, unemployed, yesterday appeared in Hastings District Court and pleaded guilty to two charges of using a document to obtain pecuniary advantage.

She was also sentenced to 250 hours' community work and ordered to pay back the money in installments of $30 per week.

The court heard how in January this year Kiwara went to Omakau, Central Otago, to visit her father, James Kahukura, 46, who had been paid a substantial settlement from ACC following an accident that left him severely disabled.

Although she had barely seen him in 23 years, she moved in, claiming she was pregnant and wanted him to know his grandchild.

She then created a series of false documents, purporting to be from ANZ Bank and Work and Income, which stated she had been approved for a loan and would receive a large payout. Believing the documents to be credible, her father agreed to loan her $75,000.

Defence counsel Trent Petherick said Kiwara had been seriously affected after a vicious assault by her stepfather in 2004.

He said her mother had died of cancer in the same year and that she was left to care for her siblings as a result.

She had also miscarried twins shortly after the offending, he said.

Judge Geoff Rea said she had only narrowly avoided a prison term.

"There haven't been many cases that I've agonised over as much as this. You've escaped a prison sentence only because you have no prior convictions, because you can pay the money back and because a great deal of your private life has been tragic.

"The most appalling aspect of all was that as soon as you had your money, you bolted. You then purchased a $16,000 Toyota Altezza and paid off drug debts."

Mr Kahukura was at home in Omakau when told of the outcome.

"It's a great relief that I don't have to go to sleep worrying about all that now.

"I won't be stressing out so much ... I'm happy."

- STAFF REPORTER, OTAGO DAILY TIMES