PHOTO: STUFF A woman has been convicted in the Palmerston North District Court of redirecting rent payments to herself.
A property manager who siphoned $50,000 from her clients’ accounts is fighting to keep her identity secret.
At her sentencing in the Palmerston North District Court last week, an order to suppress her name was denied.
Her legal team confirmed on Friday she would appeal against the judge’s decision, so the woman’s name remains suppressed – for now.
She was employed in the property division of a major Manawatū real estate firm, which Stuff isn’t naming for legal reasons.
Part of her role was managing rental portfolios for 160 clients.
“She worked hard and had a good work ethic,” her former boss told the court.
“She earned the trust of her work colleagues. Trust is the only commodity we have to offer our clients.”
In a fall from grace, she was convicted last week of accessing a computer system for a dishonest purpose and ordered to serve six months’ community detention, complete 200 hours of community work and cover the firm’s $5000 insurance excess fee.
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