Strata employee fired ‘effective immediately’ over theft allegations

A staff member at a popular North Coast strata management agency has been sacked “effective immediately” amid allegations of misdirected funds – yet months on, no charges have been laid.

A North Coast strata management agency has sacked a staff member over claims of “unauthorised transactions”.

A staff member at a popular North Coast strata management agency has been sacked “effective immediately” amid allegations of misdirected funds – yet months on, no charges have been laid.

The agency sent a letter to its clients, seen by this publication, which confirmed that the employee was dismissed earlier this year, one day after allegations of financial misconduct came to light.

In the letter the company director alleged that “numerous unauthorised transactions” had been made from some of the strata plan trusts accounts the staff member handled.

The strata agency informed some of its clients of the employee’s termination earlier this year.

The director expressed deep disappointment in the alleged “significant breach of trust”.

The letter states that the staff member allegedly “had full and exclusive access to the trust accounts, in full compliance with the Office of Fair Trading’s regulatory requirements”.

The agency director claimed a number of suspicious transactions, which appeared to have altered bank details, directing funds to an unknown bank account had been identified.

The alleged fraud has been referred to police.

“We will be undertaking a full financial audit conducted by an independent external party to confirm all affected schemes and the total amounts involved,” the letter stated.

Upon the discovery of the transactions the agency revoked the staff member’s access to Macquarie Bank, terminated their employment and reported the matter to the NSW Police and the Office of Fair Trading.

The agency declined to comment further beyond confirming the legitimacy of the letter.

NSW Police have since confirmed they were notified of the claims and inquiries are ongoing.

Police have confirmed no charges have been laid.

They urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

This publication does not suggest the claims are true, only that the agency made them and that police are investigating.

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Originally published as Strata employee fired ‘effective immediately’ over theft allegations