Marjorie Kapua in Wagga Local Court charged over alleged $933k fraud
A woman has fronted court accused of using other people’s identities to try to steal more than $930,000 during a four-month spree, buying up thousands in merchandise and cash.
The Wagga News
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A Riverina woman has fronted court accused of using other people’s identities to try to rake in nearly $1 million from their online accounts and via banking products.
Marjorie Te Rina Kapua, aged 34, appeared via video link in Wagga Local Court on Friday charged with four counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and one count of break, enter and steal.
The Hillston woman has not pleaded to the charges.
Police allege Kapua used the identities of multiple people to steal money from various online banking accounts and to fraudulently apply for credit cards and personal loans.
Police allege she tried to fraudulently obtain more than $933,000 during a four-month period, securing thousands in merchandise and cash in the process.
Police further allege she broke into a Hillston store in the early hours of February 25, when she allegedly stole cash and stock – including clothing and jewellery — worth more than $2000.
Her court appearance comes after a search warrant was executed at her home on Thursday morning with investigators finding and seizing computers, tablets, telephones and SIM cards.
On Friday, the court heard she allegedly used the identities of other people to make six applications for saving accounts, 21 for credit cards, 11 to lift credit limits and 11 for personal loans.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jason Tozer opposed bail, saying there were unacceptable risks in relation to failure to appear in court, committing further offences and endangering the safety of the community and the alleged victims.
“This is a highly organised, systematically planned series of offending,” Sergeant Tozer alleged. “It’s a very strong prosecution case.”
He also said he had been “wrapping his brain” about finding viable conditions to mitigate this type of alleged offending because it was done via the internet.
Sergeant Tozer cited Kapua’s “extremely concerning” history in Victoria, saying she failed to appear between January and March resulting in three outstanding arrest warrants.
He also told the court that Kapua has nine convictions in Victoria in relation to fraud and other dishonesty offences.
The court heard she was on a community-based sentence for those Victorian offences at the time of the alleged NSW offences.
Defence solicitor William Glowrey argued the prosecution’s case and most of the charges were a circumstantial case.
“There’s no evidence by police as to the specific IP address where these transactions or interactions originated from,” Mr Glowrey said.
“The prosecution hasn’t shown beyond a circumstantial case against her that she was the one who instigated these interactions or that she was the one who received benefits.”
However, he conceded that the prosecution’s case based on phone records was stronger.
In relation to the risk of failing to appear in court, he said his client had strong community ties as she has family in Hillston and that she is the primary carer of her children — one of whom is said to have leukaemia.
The court heard that no evidence about the leukaemia was tendered.
Kapua’s family initially indicated a surety of $2000 but it was then reduced to $200. Mr Glowrey said this was due to their limited income.
Other proposals included the surrendering of all but one mobile phone, not leaving NSW, having a curfew imposed and not contacting the prosecution’s witnesses.
Magistrate Christopher Halburd denied bail, saying the allegations involved “just an immense amount of very organised and very systematic planning in relation to obtaining large amounts of money whilst on conditional liberty.”
“All aimed at (allegedly) obtaining large amounts of credit facilities, or indeed goods or money,” Mr Halburd said.
He also said that the police investigations are ongoing and further charges are expected to be laid.
She is scheduled to front Griffith Local Court on May 13 when pleas are expected to be entered.
She may be excused if legally represented.