Darwin private busted skimming from Army travel allowance

A DARWIN soldier who pocketed more than $1300 in army travel allowances he wasn’t entitled to after being transferred from Brisbane has pleaded guilty to obtaining a financial advantage

A Darwin soldier who pocketed more than $1300 in army travel allowances he wasn’t entitled to after being transferred from Brisbane has pleaded guilty to obtaining a financial advantage

A DARWIN soldier who pocketed more than $1300 in army travel allowances he wasn’t entitled to after being transferred from Brisbane has pleaded guilty to obtaining a financial advantage.

Private Samuel Donald King, 30, was convicted in a Defence Force Magistrates Court hearing at Robertson Barracks yesterday.

In his submissions to the court, prosecuting officer Lieutenant Commander Joshua Nottle said King had claimed a travel allowance in order to drive from his previous posting in Brisbane to start work in Darwin in February last year.

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But instead of driving between the bases, Lt Cmdr Nottle said King flew to Sydney to visit family, where he was delayed, and flew straight from there to Darwin.

But instead of informing his superiors of the change, which would have entitled him to a smaller allowance, King pocketed the $1319.67 difference.

King had two weeks to tell his bosses about the change of plan and Lt Cmdr Nottle said he had contacted freight contractor Toll during that time but neglected to inform them of the change of plan.

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“He is in contact with his Toll case manager, which is the perfect opportunity to tell them that circumstances have changed and he flew from Sydney,” he said.

But Lt Cmdr Nottle said he accepted the fraud was not committed out of greed and King’s defending officer, Wing Commander Jodie Mather, said her client had a “lapse of judgment” and was “by no means attempting to line his own pockets”.

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Wng Cmdr Mather said King had been delayed in Sydney by “a whole bunch of family dramas” and stayed on the extra time to look after his mother.

Adding to his stress, Wng Cmdr Mather said King had also applied for a visa for his Nigerian partner at around the same time, which had not been approved.

“Private King found himself caught up in a stressful family ordeal,” she said. King will return to court for sentencing.