Latha Pinapala faces Dalby Magistrates Court on three counts of theft and seven counts of fraud

An Indian woman with no prior offences has faced court after stealing two credit cards and going on a shopping spree across seven stores. Find out more.

An Indian woman has faced Dalby Magistrates Court for racking up fraudulent charges on stolen credit cards.

A 27-year-old woman from India has been hit with a fine after stealing and racking up payments on two separate bank cards.

Latha Pinapala faced Dalby Magistrates Court on Thursday pleading guilty to 10 separate offences, including three counts of thefts and seven counts of fraud.

The court was told on July 6, 2024, Pinapala, who had no prior history, stole a Heritage Bank card and spent $280 across five different Dalby stores.

The following month on August 30 Pinapala stole a NAB debit card and fraudulently used the card at two stores, spending a total of $90.98.

Pinapala told the court she had found both of the cards in the park.

She was also charged with theft after stealing five T-shirts from the Dalby Vinnies store on Cunningham St where CCTV footage captured her going into the change rooms with a number of items and only leaving with one on a hook.

Pinapala, who required the use of a translator, provided no explanation for the thefts and said she “wasn’t thinking and was sorry for her actions”.

Magistrate Aaron Simpson said he was surprised by her lack of explanation and stressed the severity of the crimes which involved three victims.

Mr Simpson ordered Pinapala to pay a $1000 fine as well as restitution of $370.98 to the victims.

He also ordered it be paid back within the next two weeks as Pinapala, who had moved to Dalby from India just the year prior with her husband and four year-old son, had plans to move back in October.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Latha Pinapala faces Dalby Magistrates Court on three counts of theft and seven counts of fraud