Property manager jailed for stealing clients’ rent, bond payments

A greedy western suburbs property manager who stole more than $136,000 in rent and bond payments from her clients has been jailed. And the judge wasn’t buying the mum-of-two’s excuses.

Tanya Simovska has been jailed for stealing more than $136,000 from her clients.

A greedy real estate property manager who fleeced her clients of more than $136,000 has been jailed for her crimes.

Tanya Simovska, 37, this month pleaded guilty to a raft of theft and deception charges while working at PRD Jens Gaunt Real Estate and Hunter French Real Estate.

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The County Court heard the Sunshine mother of two pocketed tenants’ bond and rent payments made to her in cash, totalling $136,827 over 15 months during her employment at the two agencies in 2010 and 2015.

Simovska was also charged with stealing a car after she rented a Mitsubishi Lancer from Thrifty Car Rentals in Footscray in October 2011, and never returned it.

The sedan was reported stolen in January 2012 and was seized by police in August that year.

During police interviews, Simovska denied stealing from her clients, claiming she had handed the cash over to the agency’s receptionist.

She also claimed she had been sexually harassed by a partner at one of the agencies and later said she had been driven to steal because her husband was abusive and controlling and often demanded she give him money to feed his drug habit.

Judge Christopher Ryan said there was no evidence to back up Simovska’s claims.

“I accept (your husband) was violent towards you and that your relationship with him was an abusive one, however I am not satisfied that Michael Azzopardi made demands on you for money as described,” he said.

“In each record of interview you told the police a tissue of lies and sought to shift the blame for your offending elsewhere.”

Since June 2015, Simovska has been working as a senior property manager at Trimson Partners in Footscray.

There have been no allegations made about Simovska’s conduct during this time and the Leader is not suggesting there has been any wrongdoing.

Judge Ryan said Simovska’s offending had caused financial hardship to her previous employers.

“Your offending involved a breach of trust … however you have not reoffended since 2015 and accordingly your prospects for rehabilitation must be regarded as better than average,” he said.

Simovska was sentenced to 18 months’ jail and must serve nine months before she is eligible for parole.

She was also fined $750 for failing to appear at an earlier court date.