Ex-CCCI worker charged with over 100 new fraud charges

A mum who allegedly laundered tens of thousands she had stolen from a community organisation had 168 new charges laid against her.

IN COURT: Gaye Kathleen Smith, appeared in Chinchilla Magistrates Court on 233 alleged offences after police launched an investigation into missing funds from the CCCI. Pic: Supplied.

Former employee of the Chinchilla Chamber and Commerce Inc, Gaye Kathleen Smith, fronted Chinchilla court where she had to sign a new bail for an additional 168 charges laid against her.

On Thursday, May 27, the Chinchilla Magistrates court heard the mum had recently been charged with an additional 163 charges of fraud, dishonestly obtaining property from another employee, three charges of stealing by clerks or servants, and two charges of forgery and uttering.

These were added to previous charges of fraud, dishonestly obtaining property from another employee, at the value of over $30,000, but less than $100,000, 32 charges of stealing by clerks or servants, 31 charges of fraudulently falsifying or destroying records, and one charge of money laundering.

The mother is alleged to have fraudulently obtained a little over $45,000 from the CCCI, which was picked up by the community organisation when they reviewed their books in early 2020.

Defence lawyer Jessica Hine said Ms Smith sought to change her bail by removing a reporting condition.

Police prosecutor sergeant Chris Hutchins said he had no issues with the proposed change as Ms Smith wasn’t a “flight risk”.

Magistrate Tracy Mossop removed the weekly reporting condition at the Chinchilla police station and told Ms Smith she would have to sign a new bail regardless due to the new charges.

Ms Hine said the office had received a full brief of evidence earlier in the week, although they wanted a month to review the information and consult with Ms Smith.

Magistrate Mossop set the alleged fraud case aside for a summary mention on Thursday, July 8.