Mum appeals to overturn jail sentence over half-a-million dollar theft
A MUM who brazenly stole almost half a million dollars from her employer is attempting to overturn an NT Supreme Court judge’s decision to jail her
Northern Territory
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A MOTHER who brazenly stole almost half a million dollars from her employer is attempting to overturn a Supreme Court judge’s decision to jail her.
Marlee Dawn Veness was sentenced to five years and three months in jail in 2019 for stealing $486,055 from Alice Springs Helicopters, which provides commercial helicopter services in Central Australia.
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However, an appeal has been lodged with her lawyer arguing Veness should have a suspended sentence instead.
Felicity Gerry QC said Acting Justice Anthony Graham failed to consider the best interests of Veness’ young child as well as her unborn baby who was born during her prison sentence. “The removal of a child from a parent … and the taking of an unborn child into prison … is more serious or as serious than this type of financial offending,” she said during the court hearing on Friday.
“The removal of a child from a parent in our submission is a very grave step for a court to take indeed.”
Veness was in a position of trust at Alice Springs Helicopters and spent the money on lifestyle goods including horses while her employers and their families suffered from debt and stress.
Veness worked as a personal assistant and used an accounting program to “disguise” 147 bank transactions into her own account between 2014 and 2017.
Pilots lost their jobs and the company fell into debt and owed a significant amount of money to the Australian Taxation Office.
Despite being a serious example of financial offending, Ms Gerry said the sentencing judge should have considered a suspended sentence.
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“The process the sentencing judge should go through is to consider the best interests of the children … there is also a question of mercy,” she said.
Crown prosecutor Stephen Robson said the court had plenty of opportunities to assess the suitability of a suspended sentence for Veness.
“What more could have been submitted upon about this issue of suspension or partial suspension of the sentence?” he said.
Court of Appeal justices Jenny Blokland, Michael Grant and Dean Mildren will make a decision on the appeal.
Originally published as Mum appeals to overturn jail sentence over half-a-million dollar theft