By Sarah McPhee
A Sydney woman accused of stealing three-quarters of a million dollars from 12 people to “feed” her long-standing gambling addiction has previously been jailed four times for fraud, a court has heard.
Rina Pasaribu has been in custody since December, charged with 12 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, totalling more than $747,000 over a period to September 2023.
Rina Pasaribu is charged with 12 separate instances of fraud.Credit: NSW Police
At her bail application on Tuesday, the NSW Supreme Court heard Pasaribu was a 51-year-old mother and Australian citizen, born in Indonesia, who was previously employed and attending TAFE.
“There is clearly a long-standing gambling addiction that appears to be fuelling the alleged offences before your honour,” Pasaribu’s Legal Aid lawyer Cleo Patrizi said.
“She’s a person who, otherwise, is trying to be a positive contributor to the community.”
Justice Andrew Coleman acknowledged Pasaribu had served four terms of imprisonment since 2005 for fraud and this was the fifth time she had been detained over such offences.
‘The problem is gambling. The root of all of the problems.’
Justice Andrew Coleman
The judge said Pasaribu allegedly commits fraud to “feed” her addiction, and “steals the money” to put into poker machines.
“The problem is gambling,” Coleman said. “The root of all of the problems.”
The judge decried the lack of publicly funded residential rehabilitation facilities for gambling addicts, describing it as “an appalling state of affairs”.
Prosecutor William Sit said Pasaribu’s 2016 conviction, for which she received a four-and-a-half year head sentence, “relates to a very similar quantum”.
The Crown conceded if the current case went to trial, it would “realistically” not be held until 2026.
The judge anticipated Pasaribu, if convicted, would receive a “significant period of full-time detention” given the seriousness of the charges and her record “for multiple similar offences”.
The court heard Pasaribu self-reported alcohol dependence and had been offered a spot at a residential rehabilitation facility for women in Sydney’s inner west, focused on recovery from alcohol and other drug dependence.
Pasaribu cried as she was granted bail on conditions including attending a three- to four-month program with optional residential care for nine months, and returning to custody when it ends.
She must abstain from alcohol and is banned from licensed gaming premises including RSLs, TAB shops and casinos.
Coleman said while Pasaribu had not formally been diagnosed with alcoholism, he could infer the organisation had assessed her as suitable and the program could assist “in treating the comorbidities” between her gambling addiction and alcohol issues.
Pasaribu’s lawyer said her client, in a letter, wrote: “My shame around my gambling issues alone kept me from revealing the full extent of my struggle with alcohol, which made true healing impossible.”
Coleman said the evidence before him indicating an absence of publicly funded gambling residential rehabilitation facilities was shameful. He added: “Steps should be taken by the appropriate authorities or government to make available resources to assist those suffering from gambling addictions.”
The judge acknowledged there were privately funded facilities, but Pasaribu “does not have the means to avail herself of those places”. The case returns to court in December.
If you want help for an issue related to gambling, phone the national gambling helpline on 1800 858 858.
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