Bookkeeper Christine Hogan guilty of fraud and theft charges in County Court

A Templestowe bookkeeper will take a break from the office and get her hands dirty after she betrayed her boss and stole $140,000 out of his account.

Bookkeeper Christine Hogan previously pleaded not guilty to the fraud and theft charges, but a court heard on August 15 2023 Hogan had taken responsibility for her actions and has now been sentenced to a two-year community corrections order on August 28. Picture: Supplied

A Templestowe bookkeeper who “stole” years of her boss’ retirement fund after transferring $140,000 of his money into her personal bank account has been spared jail

Christine Hogan admitted to theft and fraud charges at the Melbourne County Court last week and was sentenced on Monday to a two-year community corrections order and 300 hours of community work.

The court heard the 67-year-old previously denied the offending after she transferred the loot to her personal bank account when looking through her former employer’s bank records.

In a court hearing in January 2022, Hogan fleeced a company which provides signs for real estate agencies while performing subcontracted bookkeeping between June 2011 and July 2017.

Hogan told investigators at the time her employer asked her to transfer money, by withdrawing cash and giving it to him in order for him to avoid paying his taxes by “dealing with cash”.

However, it was revealed Hogan’s bank account records did not match the cash withdrawals she claimed had occurred.

The bookkeeper told investigators at the time that her former boss asked her to withdraw the cash to give back to him. Picture: Supplied

The court heard Hogan’s former employer felt like he was “being laughed at behind his back” and was “humiliated” when the fraud was discovered.

He said in his victim impact statement she never paid him back and the process had given him so much “grief”.

“Once I knew about the theft I knew I had to work for another three to four years,” he said.

“To put it simply, she stole three years of my retirement.”

Hogan’s boss was looking forward to playing table tennis when he retired from his “physically demanding” job.

“In the end I got on with my life,” Hogan’s boss said.

“I knew I had to keep my business going — I didn’t want the case to affect my work ethic.”

He knew Hogan and her husband Garry Hogan for 25 years and spent a lot of time with them in the past 10 years.

The court heard Hogan knew her employer for 30 years. Picture: Supplied

“But my friend Christine never existed,” he said.

“When I discovered the fraud, I realised we were never friends.

“Our whole relationship was false for the entire 30 years — now I don’t even know who she is.”

Hogan will be ordered to pay back her boss approximately $112,366 in four separate instalments — with the first instalment payable within a month and the next three instalments payable six months apart from each other.

Hogan was described as a “devoted” and “loving” wife in a character reference by her husband.

Judge Angela Ellis said Hogan’s offending was a “gross breach of trust” and believed there was a “degree” of planning involved.

“Rather than discuss your concerns you decided to take matters into your own hands,” Judge Ellis said.

“Such conduct will not be tolerated.”

Judge Ellis added she was not convinced Hogan was “remorseful” but took into consideration she had no prior criminal history.

Hogan was convicted and placed on a two-year community corrections order and will undertake 300 hours of community work at the Box Hill Community Correctional Services Centre.

Judge Ellis also encouraged Hogan to seek mental health treatment and rehabilitation.