Sacked paramedic Louis Roza pleads guilty to stealing cash from dead patient’s wallet

A paramedic with more than 40 years’ experience has pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of dollars from the wallet of a deceased patient.

A veteran paramedic caught stealing cash out of a dead patient’s wallet has blamed the bizarre crime on untreated mental health problems caused by prolonged exposure to trauma.

Louis Roza, 62, was sacked from the Queensland Ambulance Service the same day a colleague witnessed him stealing $580 from the wallet of a 78-year-old man who had died that morning.

He pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday to stealing a sum of money.

The court heard paramedics were called to an Aspley home on November 18, 2021 where the man had died.

As one paramedic assisted the man’s partially blind wife complete reports and another paramedic brewed her tea, Roza approached a kitchen bench where the deceased man’s closed wallet was.

Police prosecutor Eddie Fraser said one of the paramedics in the room heard the rustling of cash and saw Roza place his hand into his left back pocket before leaving the kitchen and home.

Police were called and seized $580 from Roza, however, he continued to deny taking any money and stated that he had never touched or saw the wallet.

Paramedic Louis Roza (right) and his lawyer Leigh Rollason leaving the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The offending was quite unremarkable, it was brazen, there was little compliance initially with police, there was a denial, he was not cooperative,” Mr Fraser said.

“The defendant had a special position in that he was entrusting to assist in the death of an individual as a responsible public servant.

“To take property that didn‘t belong to him is concerning to say the least.”

A psychiatric report concluded Roza had been suffering from untreated mental health problems caused by the trauma of his profession.

Defence lawyer Leigh Rollason said the unplanned and opportunistic stealing was a “manifestation of untreated mental health disorders”.

The court heard Roza had no criminal or traffic history, and had begun work as a courier since being fired as a paramedic.

“You’ve been a paramedic for 40 years and had what appeared to be a very successful career up until what transpired,” Acting Magistrate Michael Bice said.

“Other than this offence, you would have been considered an upright citizen.”

Roza was sentenced to 18 months probation, with no conviction recorded.

In January, the Queensland Health Ombudsman imposed conditions on his registration preventing him from having any contact with patients or their property.

“The practitioner must not practise in any role that includes direct patient contact or being in the vicinity of patients’ property,” the website says in reference to Roza.

He refused to comment outside of court.