Yeppoon massage parlour worker Yihang Sun sentenced for fraud

A young woman working at a Queensland shopping centre managed to spend a client’s money despite not having the bank card. Now, she’s been sentenced.

Yihang Sun.

A university student working at a massage parlour used a customer’s card to buy pizzas for staff before attempting a second fraudulent purchase for more than $500, a court has heard.

Yihang Sun, 23, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to fraud and attempted fraud.

The court heard that at the time of the offending, Sun was working part-time at her family’s business, Fantastic Massage, at Bay Plaza Yeppoon.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Darrell Dalton said on May 10, the 51-year-old female victim attended the massage parlour, making payment at the reception.

Sgt Dalton said Sun processed the payment after obtaining the victim’s bank card and private health care card.

“Whilst having possession of these cards (Sun) has recorded the victim’s details, the details on the cards,” Sgt Dalton said.

On May 16, the victim was at work in Yeppoon when she was notified from her bank about a $30 purchase which she did not make.

Then later the same day, the victim received a further notification from her bank about an attempted $562 purchase on her card which she didn’t make.

“This (second) purchase using the card details was made at a time after the card had already been put on hold – (so) that was not able to proceed,” Sgt Dalton said.

The court heard that police executed a search warrant at Fantastic Massage and spoke with Sun.

“The (first) item ordered was pizzas – she (Sun) stated that she’d shared the pizzas with other employees but denied that she was the one that had ordered the pizzas by way of this (the victim’s) card.”

“(Sun’s) phone was seized and subsequently inspected by police.”

She was later charged with the two offences.

The court heard that Sun had no criminal history.

Solicitor Rebecca Harris said Sun, who was in her final year of a six-year university degree, was no longer working at the massage parlour.

“Her instructions are that, it was obviously opportunistic offending and she, in her own words ‘acted really stupidly’,” Ms Harris said.

She said Sun knew her actions could have affected everything she had going for her.

In sentencing on May 30, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Sun’s offending was disappointing for herself and her family.

“Because nothing like this has occurred in your life (before) – you’re a high achiever, probably an over-achiever,” Ms Beckinsale said.

“And I don’t really have an understanding of what has happened on this occasion for you to take advantage of the situation.

“But you have demonstrated your remorse.”

Ms Beckinsale fined Sun $600 and ordered she pay $30 restitution.

No conviction was recorded.