Sacked TVNZ staffer charged with theft

Theft and fraud charges have been laid against a TVNZ accountant who was fired from the state broadcaster after an inquiry into cheques worth up to $70,000.

Police arrested Binesh Pillay, 38, at his downtown Auckland apartment yesterday morning. He later appeared in the North Shore District Court.

A total of seven indictable charges have been laid, including theft of cheques and using them fraudulently.

The arrest comes six months after an internal TVNZ investigation focused on a number of cheques cashed with a North Shore finance company.

The inquiry found that up to five cheques from businesses as payment for advertising were allegedly cashed by the accountant with Acorn Finance in November and December.

Between $60,000 and $70,000 allegedly went missing from TVNZ coffers, but has since been recovered. Pillay was dismissed after a disciplinary meeting with management shortly before Christmas.

TVNZ filed a complaint with the police in December.

Craig McCormack, a detective sergeant with the North Shore CIB, said the investigation was ongoing and further charges were likely to be laid.

Pillay was remanded to reappear in court on May 25.