Ex-David Grant Associates legal director Kerryn Parkinson Bien to contest fraud charges

A woman who runs a family daycare program in Ipswich and Brisbane will contest hundreds of fraud charges after her husband told police she was allegedly cooking the books at their legal firm.

Picture: iStock

A former legal partner and administrator of David Grant and Associates Solicitors at Lowood is fighting more than 100 charges of fraud in Ipswich District Court.

Police will allege Kerryn Michelle Parkinson, 48, fraudulently obtained $20,843.95 between 2017 and 2018 while working for David Grant and Associates Solicitors — also known as Scholz and Bien Pty Ltd.

David Grant and Associates Solicitors at Lowood. Picture: Google Maps

Although Ms Parkinson was yet to formally enter a plea, court documents indicated her case might go to a trial where she was expected to plead not guilty.

Ms Parkinson and her ex-husband Edward Frank Bien created the regional legal firm in 2015, alongside silent partners Meredith Dessa Maree Scholz and Mark Rex Scholz.

According to court documents, Mr Bien was the one who informed police his wife allegedly used false records on an accounting system to avoid detection and people known to her as employees so she could allegedly pocket and spend the money.

The document stated Ms Parkinson was solely responsible for administration, which included bookkeeping and the payment of staff wages.

The Ipswich woman presently runs a home daycare facility at Bundamba called Kerryn’s House Family Day Care.

Ipswich Courthouse.

In August 2019, Lowood police charged the childcare educator with the following 120 alleged offences:

· False entry on record x 32: False entry in payroll of Scholz and Bien Pty Ltd, trading as David Grant and Associates Solicitors

· False entry on record x 35: False entry in payroll of Scholz and Bien Pty Ltd, trading as David Grant and Associates Solicitors

· Fraud - dishonestly cause detriment x 1: Dishonestly caused detriment

· False entry on record x13: False entry in payroll of Scholz and Bien Pty Ltd, trading as David Grant and Associates Solicitors

· Fraud x 37 - dishonest application of property of another by director: Dishonestly obtained credit from Scholz and Bien Pty Ltd, trading as David Grant and Associates Solicitors

· Stealing x1: Stole mobile property belonging to Scholz and Bien Pty Ltd, trading as David Grant and Associates Solicitors

· Stealing x1: Stole computer belonging to Scholz and Bien Pty Ltd, trading as David Grant and Associates Solicitors

Ms Parkinson’s trial date would be announced at a later date.