Christopher Wiseman fronts court over theft of $185k from a charity

A trusted manager who bled a Jewish charity for the elderly almost dry after stealing $185k will likely lose his job at a car dealership after being convicted for his crimes.

Christopher Wiseman has been sentenced to community corrections orders for fleecing the Jewish Care Victoria of $185,000 by fraudulently obtaining 15 loans over nearly two years.

A senior manager who fleeced a Jewish charity group that cares for the elderly of $185,000 and blew his ill-gotten gains on gambling and wheeling and dealing on the share market has been spared jail.

Christopher Wiseman fronted the County Court for sentencing on Friday after pleading guilty last month to a charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception from the Jewish Care Victoria.

The 50-year-old used fraudulent details to obtain 15 loans between November 2016 and August 2018 while he worked as the relationship manager at the charity and deposited the money into bank accounts that were either controlled by or had links to him.

Wiseman was sentenced to a three-year community corrections order.

Jewish Care interim chief executive, Associate Adjunct Professor Gayle Smith said: “It is so disappointing to think that someone would abuse charitable funds that are from community for community and intended to support people in need”.

Wiseman’s offending only came to light when he left the organisation.

Christopher Wiseman will likely lose his job as a result of his conviction and sentence for fraudulently obtaining $185,000 by deception.

Judge Wendy Wilmoth said a sentence of CCO was within range due to factors such as the fact Wiseman has repaid most of the stolen money, his early guilty plea, good prospects of rehabilitation and the likely loss of his job in the quality assurance department at a car dealership.

The court heard that Wiseman’s offending only came to light when he left the organisation.

He used the stolen money on personal expenses, including gambling and share trading.

Jewish Care Victoria copped a massive reputational hit, forcing it to reassure its donors that it still remained a trusted organisation.

In a victim impact statement, the organisation said the no-interest loans program has attracted donors over the years who had trusted that their money would be used to support those in the greatest need.

“Funds by the community, for the community, have been misappropriated, taking away from those in need, which has placed pressure on our organisation as we’ve had to go to additional lengths to reassure community members that we remain an organisation to trust and support,’’ the statement read

“A reduction in the pool of lending funds available to borrowers has been a direct impact on the fraud. These funds are not easily replaced, given the interest-free nature of this offering. “The shock at discovering a trusted colleague committed fraud and robbed a community service has been substantial.

“It required significant time and effort to debrief and support staff as they come to terms with the reality that someone within the organisation would engage in such a deception. Reputationally, the organisation has been robbed.”