A former employee of a Darwin construction company has pleaded guilty to defrauding her employer, Jakes Steel and Welding, of nearly $90,000.
Kristy Gall, 41, appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Tuesday on two counts of obtaining benefit by deception.
The first charge relates to Gall spending a total of $86,327 on a company credit card between January 20, 2014, and October 17, 2018, to pay bills and invoices.
The second charge related to her paying herself $1,946 of recreational leave she was not entitled to by manipulating the company's accounting system, between September 14, 2014 and August 21, 2018.
Gall pleaded guilty to both charges.
Accused paid for holiday with company credit card
The court heard was Gall was given access to the company bank account in January 2014, and in March of the same year was asked to take on responsibility for managing the financial affairs of the company.
It also heard she was the only person with access to the company's financial management software.
Crown prosecutor Jamie Singh told the court Gall's employment at the business was terminated in November 2018 over her use of a company credit card to pay for a holiday.
The discovery came after unauthorised expenses were identified on a credit card issued to her.
"The accused [said] that she had recently used the business credit card … because the amount, $3,520, was over her own card limit, but [she] had paid this back to the business," Mr Singh said.
Mr Singh said Gall had paid back the $3,520 payment on October 15, 2018, and a full audit of her use of the company credit card and bank account was conducted.
He said all of the transactions related to personal expenses.
Defence seeking reports
Mr Singh said in total, Gall unlawfully obtained $88,273.02.
However, he said restitution was only being sought for $84,753.02, "remembering that the accused repaid $3,520 in October of [2018]".
Gall's lawyer, Jon Tippet QC, asked for an adjournment, saying he only met his client for the first time last week.
"Having gone through a number of materials, it's clear to me that there are some issues that go right back and that need to be looked at," he said.
"I really feel that in order to properly put her and the circumstances before you, I need a report from certainly a psychiatrist, probably also a psychologist."
According to the prosecution, the maximum sentence for each charge faced by Gall is seven years' imprisonment.
Justice Jenny Blokland adjourned the matter until July 14, and extended Gall's bail.
