Toowoomba lawyers make bid to downgrade employee Melinda Marshall’s fraud charges

Lawyers representing a Toowoomba woman accused of major employee fraud have made a bid to police to downgrade the charges.

Melinda Marshall, accused of stealing from her employer, was not required to appear in court when her case was mentioned before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court in June, 2025. Picture: File / GENERIC PHOTO OF A ANONYMOUS WOMAN

The lawyers of a Toowoomba woman accused of ripping off her employer have made a bid to have her charges downgraded.

Melinda Mary Marshall’s fraud charges have been before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court for two years, first being mentioned in mid-2023.

Ms Marshall first appeared in court on 19 fraud-related charges, but when her matter was heard before the lower courts on Thursday, June 26, only 15 charges were mentioned.

Melinda Marshall, accused of stealing from her employer, was not required to appear in court when her case was mentioned before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court in June, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The charges mentioned were as follows: nine counts of forgery and uttering, three counts of uttering a forged document, two counts of fraud by dishonestly gaining a benefit or advantage, and one count of attempted fraud.

In June, more than two years after Ms Marshall was first charged, the court heard her lawyers had made a submission to police prosecution, who were considering the proposal.

In 2023, the courts heard the fraud case related to the alleged theft of more than $100,000.

No details of the police allegations were aired in open court.
An update on the fraud case will be mentioned before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on September 25.

Ms Marshall remains on bail.

Originally published as Toowoomba lawyers make bid to downgrade employee Melinda Marshall’s fraud charges