Dodgy bookkeeper Danny Lee jailed for stealing $475,000 from Revelation Consulting
A scoundrel bookkeeper rorted $475,000 from close friends who had to sell their family run Fitzroy North-based IT company leading to 20 staff getting sacked has learned his fate.
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A scoundrel bookkeeper who blew $475,000 rorted from his former boss on house renovations, his children and living expenses has been jailed.
Danny Lee, 44, was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday to 10 months’ prison time after pleading guilty to a rolled-up charge of obtaining property by deception.
Lee was bookkeeper and finance manager for Revelation Consulting Pty Ltd when he fleeced $475,000 between October 2013 and November 2017.
The fraudster — who was part of the company’s leadership team — had “full control” of finances when he made 147 bogus transactions.
Lee’s modus operandi was to create fake invoices then transfer the funds into his bank account.
Lee’s status at the Fitzroy North-based IT business was so high he was considered a top candidate for the vacant chief financial officer role.
However, the court heard Lee’s performance dropped which killed his CFO chances and eventually led to his dismissal in December 2017.
Lee’s replacement — who took the CFO role — conducted an immediate audit which uncovered the fraudster’s skulduggery.
Revelation Consulting mobilised lawyers, hired a fraud investigator and launched civil proceedings.
Lee admitted his guilt and repaid the stolen money and legal fees but his woes did not end there.
Police got involved and charged Lee in December last year.
Lee told investigators he splashed cash on his home renovations that had “exceeded budget”.
The court was told Lee — his family’s “sole breadwinner” — spent the money on his mortgage, his children and “general” living expenses.
Lee paid off his house which was built on prime Blackburn land paid for by his late wife’s parents.
Revelation Consulting’s former owners David and Rachel Markus had their victim impact statement read out in court.
The couple said being cheated by a former “long term and trusted” employee was “extremely distressing”.
“The crime damaged the trust between us,” Mr Markus said.
The court heard Lee and his victims were close.
Lee and Mr Markus played pool together at the office daily and Mrs Markus said she mentored the fraud from a bookkeeper to his high-level role.
The victims and Lee also socialised outside of work as their children were around the same ages.
Lee also helped his victims shift furniture.
Mr Markus also supported Lee while his former mate’s “poor and erratic” work performance went downhill.
The couple said they had expressed gratitude to Lee for “having our backs” at work.
Mr Markus — who founded the company — found the stress too much to cope with and he was asked by the company’s leaders to step away from the company he established.
The couple sold their once-flourishing business — which made the BRW ‘Fast 100’ list three years in a row — at a “fire sale”.
The couple were on track to expand the business nationally but Lee’s deceit ended the expansion.
Mrs Markus estimated the business lost “millions” and more than 20 of the 35 strong workforce lost their jobs amid the fallout.
The couple were forced to sell their house and move their children in a bid to restart their lives.
“We can’t contemplate running a family business again,” Mrs Markus said.
Lee, who now claims to be a “software implementation consultant”, will be sentenced on September 17.
Judge William Stuart ordered Lee be placed on a three-year community correction order.
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