Athena Razos was ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ when she stole over $1.5m from a law firm

A Box Hil South paralegal who stole more than $1.5m from her employer was “robbing Peter to pay Paul” throughout her offending, a court has heard.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Athena Razos had her final hearing ahead of her sentencing on on July 18 for charges of obtaining property and financial advantage by deception.

A paralegal who stole more than $1.5m from her employer was “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, a court has heard.

Between 2013 and 2017, Athena Razos, 59, pilfered money from her then employer, law firm Moray & Agnew, to fund the construction of a new house in Box Hill South on land she had previously purchased for $1m

Razos appeared in the County Court from remand for a final plea hearing having previously pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining property and financial advantage by deception.

The embezzlement was discovered by Moray & Agnew in August 2017, with Razos sacked in October that year.

Razos was permanently disqualified from being a paralegal at a VCAT hearing in 2020.

Throughout the hour-long hearing, she appeared mostly stone faced, occasionally bowing her head during submissions by both sides.

Athena Razos embezzled more than $1.5M to fund the construction of a house in Box Hill South NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Much of the submissions hinged on Razos’ mental health before, during, and after the offending occurred. It was noted that she had repaid her former employer more than $1m before she was charged with the offending.

Forensic psychologist Patrick Newton told the court Razos had a depressive disorder, but the severity could not be confirmed due to a lack of prior medical records. He explained that her ability to make clear and rational decisions was impacted by her depressive disorder. However, he added that Razos could appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions at the time of the offending.

Razos moved funds between trust ledgers on 21 different occasions in order to cover her tracks Picture: Istock

When discussing the embezzlement, the prosecutor indicated that Razos was “robbing Peter to pay Paul” from the Moray & Agnew trust fund.

“There is evidence (in a report) that on 21 occasions she moved funds from one trust ledger to another (in order to) cover up her offending,” the crown prosecutor said.

The prosecutor further stated that Razos was living beyond her means during her offending and that a high level of planning went into her actions and claimed Razos has guarded prospects of rehabilitation.

Razos’ defence lawyer Dr Gideon Boas emphasised her efforts to repay the stolen money, her work on improving her mental health, and the delay in sentencing in his submissions.

Razos is to be sentenced on July 19.