Former Clarence Medical Centre practice manager Angela Bliss accused of defrauding business
The ex-practice manager of a North Coast medical centre has been accused of defrauding thousands for an infra-red sauna, Apple tech and cryptocurrency, among other items.
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The former practice manager of Clarence Medical Centre at Maclean has been accused of defrauding her former employer out of more than $75,000.
On Thursday, Yamba woman Angela Bliss, 49, faced Maclean Local Court.
She faces 56 charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Bliss has not entered any pleas to the charges, with the amounts allegedly defrauded totalling $76,259.99.
Police allege in court documents that Bliss wrongfully carried out a series of purchases, either by using a company credit card or withdrawing money from a company bank account, between January 1, 2016 and July 15 last year.
The alleged purchases, according to the documents, range from very small to eye-wateringly expensive.
For example, Bliss is accused of spending $21.35 at Yamba Fisho and $20 at a Ballina surf shop.
Some of the largest alleged purchases include an infra-red sauna, said to cost $11,099 and cryptocurrency valued at $10,000.
It’s alleged a transfer of $20,000 was made from a business account to “Angela Bliss teaching holidays”, according to the documents, which also detail alleged purchases of Apple products valued at $2908.85 and $1126.42 on an Airbnb property at Surry Hills.
Police also allege purchases linked to Ballina Bunnings, Yamba Bait and Tackle, a yoga shop and a home furnishings outlet.
In a 2017 article, Bliss spoke to The Daily Examiner about the Clarence Medical Centre’s expansion.
“We‘ve been wanting a dedicated practice for many years and now it’s finally happening,” she said at the time.
“For a couple of years we‘ve been considering doing it, but the time wasn’t right until now. “We’ve bought the premises where the dentist used to be on Pilot St opposite the Pacific Hotel. It’s undergone a full renovation and now we’re ready to go.”
When contacted, the business confirmed Bliss once worked as a practice manager, but was no longer employed there.
Bliss is next due to return to court on November 30.