Joanne Stefanovic, Castle Hill conveyancer accused of defrauding clients
A woman has been accused of ripping off a family by more than a million dollars from her northwest Sydney conveyancing business. One transaction allegedly bolstered her account by almost $250,000.
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Former businesswoman and fundraiser Joanne Stefanovic has been accused of swindling $1.08 million from a family’s trust fund over a month at her Castle Hill conveyancing business.
The 42-year-old was charged with 32 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage or causing disadvantage by deception after she allegedly transferred the clients’ funds into her own Westpac account over May and June in 2018.
Police allege in court documents Stefanovic, who was an active fundraiser and participated in events such as the Teal Ribbon Day in The Hills in 2017, transferred $247,000 to the Joanne Stefanovic Conveyancers account on May 8.
Stefanovic fronted Parramatta Local Court on Thursday when Magistrate Tim Keady expressed frustrations over time lapsing since the charges were first laid in 2018.
“What I’m concerned about is the way this matter is wandering along without evolution,’’ he said.
The court heard there was a delay over mental health issues, the coronavirus and that Stefanovic was not fit to plea despite her lawyer saying she was fit for trial.
Stefanovic’s bail was continued and conditions included living with her mother, who is a correctional officer.
The matter will return to court on November 5.