Senior public servant Yvonne Debra Buza given suspended jail term for travel allowance fraud
A highly regarded senior public servant who defrauded the taxpayer of more than $77,000 with a travel allowance scam has escaped an immediate jail term.
Yvonne Debra Buza spent her career helping Aboriginal people while living north of Adelaide — just not as far north as she claimed.
Over a four-year period, Buza — who resided at Golden Grove and Windsor Gardens — told the Aboriginal Health Council of SA that she lived in Andamooka and Roxby Downs.
That allowed her to claim $77,415.02 in travel allowances to which she was not entitled — and over which, on Tuesday, she was sentenced to a jail term.
However, the Adelaide Magistrates Court opted to suspend Buza’s penalty, despite her refusal to accept her guilt and lack of “meaningful participation” with an Aboriginal sentencing conference.
Magistrate David McLeod said multiple personal tragedies had sparked Buza’s descent into offending, and she could better repay her debt to society by continuing her advocacy work.
“(The tragedies) in no way excuse your offending, but nevertheless shed some light on why a highly regarded, respected, active member of the community would change their otherwise law-abiding behaviour so dramatically,” he said.
“A suspended sentence will see you able to provide real, continuing and active support to the community … while providing deterrence to others.”
The council’s chief executive, Shane Mohor, said the sentence was disappointing given Buza had expressed no remorse, nor taken responsibility for her actions.
He said the funds stolen by Buza could have funded infant vaccination, mental health, suicide prevention and “mums and babies” programs to benefit the community.
“In short, the moneys that were taken could have had an extremely positive and valuable impact ‘on the ground’ to those most in need and vulnerable in the Aboriginal community – instead, that money went to Buza,” he said.
“While (the council) is confident of the strength of its own internal processes … the fact remains that some may look upon the leniency of the court and conclude there will be few consequences to this kind of conduct.
“This sends a worrying message to those that might abuse the trust of any community – Aboriginal or otherwise – within SA.”
Buza, 62, first faced court in March 2016 charged with stealing $40,000 from the Health Council, the Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee and the State of SA.
After further investigations and a trial spanning several years, she was found guilty of 47 counts of deception committed against the council, of which she is the former chair.
Those offences were committed between March 2010 and August 2014.
A further 30 alleged offences, spanning November 2009 and March 2015 and totalling $187,634.81, were considered as “context” by the court but were not the subject of charges.
In sentencing on Tuesday, Mr McLeod said Buza’s offending amounted to profiting from a false address.
He said Buza had never explained her actions, but they had coincided with the death of one of her daughters and the drug addiction of one of her sons.
Around the same time, her close friend — the council’s chief executive, Mary Buckskin — had died of cancer, all of which left Buza struggling to cope.
“Your system of deception was continuous over a long period and a large-scale, systemic breach of trust,” he said.
“It was enabled by you holding a lofty position … when challenged, your senior position and the high regard you enjoyed allowed you to fend off scrutiny.
“This legal process will not end the suffering, financial loss and hurt left behind by you … the stain of your actions will be enduring.”
Mr McLeod jailed Buza for 27 months, suspended on condition of a three-year, $1000 good behaviour bond.
Outside court, Mr Mohor said the council and its staff continued to feel “deceived, betrayed and shocked” in the wake of the sentencing.
“Some of the greatest hurt has come because our previous chief executive, Aunty Mary Buckskin, has since passed on and cannot have her say regarding what has happened,” he said.
“The grief and loss surrounding this matter has taken a toll on both present and past staff and board members.”
He said the council would focus on its work “despite its concern over the sentence”.
