Worker gambles jobs away

A woman has admitted gambling away nearly half a million dollars of her employer's funds, leading to her colleagues being laid off.

The Hastings woman, who was granted name suppression, siphoned $460,832.71 into her account over two years, labelling transactions GST payments or wages.

Her actions led to the sacking of several colleagues, after managers blamed a shortfall in turnover on the recession. However, a follow-up investigation uncovered the widescale theft.

The woman, who worked in the payroll department of a Hasting firm, pleaded guilty to theft during a hearing on Tuesday at the Hastings District Court.

Her role in the Hastings business included paying staff wages, PAYE, paying creditors, banking all debtors and paying GST through the use of internet banking.

The investigation found that between April 4, 2007, and October 30 last year the woman had made 278 transactions from the company's bank account to her own.

In a bid to disguise the transactions, she inserted a creditor's name or labelled it GST or PAYE.

During that time, the woman transferred a total of $460,832.71 into her personal account.

After her arrest, the woman told police the money had been spent on slot machines throughout Hawkes Bay.

The woman is set to appear in the Napier District Court for sentencing on February 12.