Michelle Kathleen Lawson’s alleged $2.5 million fraud charges adjourned from Townsville Magistrates Court to Tully Court
A North Queensland woman who is alleged to have stolen up to $2.5 million from businesses has been escorted by police from the court.
Townsville
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A woman who was charged in connection to an alleged multi-million dollar fraud scheme in North Queensland was escorted from the court by police as her bail was revoked.
More than a dozen people sat at the back of the Townsville Magistrates Court to watch Michelle Kathleen Lawson as she appeared in person flanked by her lawyer.
The 50-year-old faces 120 charges consisting of dishonestly causing detriment by director/member of governing body value of at least $100,000, stealing by clerks and servants, stealing by directors or officers of companies and using restricted computers without consent and causing detriment or gain of $5000.
It was alleged earlier this year that the woman who worked as an officer manager in Tully misappropriated more than $2.5 million over a six-year period from 2017 to 2023.
Police at the time said her alleged offending came to light in June 2023 when the business owner detected suspicious transactions and tipped off police.
The woman’s defence lawyer Ms Doyle said the charges would be going to a registry committal and asked if it could be adjourned to a Tully Court as that’s where the alleged offending occurred.
“We’re not sure how we ended up here,” the lawyer said.
She also said she wanted to indicate that her client would be entering pleas of guilty and asked if her bail could be revoked by consent.
Magistrate Susan Warrington adjourned the matters to Tully Magistrates Court on September 26 and ordered the woman be remanded in custody.
Mrs Lawson who was visibly shaken, cooperated with officers and exited the courtroom.
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Originally published as Michelle Kathleen Lawson’s alleged $2.5 million fraud charges adjourned from Townsville Magistrates Court to Tully Court
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