Makeup artist who scammed Bupa out of $65,000 apologises from the ‘bottom of my heart’

A make-up artist who stole $65k from her employer to fund lavish trips overseas has returned to court, with doctors and former colleagues set to make appearances. LATEST >>

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A MOONAH makeup artist who defrauded her former employer to the tune of $65,000 says she is “very sorry from the bottom of my heart”.

Olivia Rose Rodgers, 31, was due to be sentenced in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday after pleading guilty last month to 62 counts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage.

But her case is still weeks away from being finalised, with the court still waiting on a doctor’s report it needs to consider before her punishment is handed down.

Olivia Rodgers leaves the Hobart Magistrates Court.

Defence lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi told Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason he intended to call evidence from two doctors to describe a condition Ms Rodgers was suffering along with anxiety, plus evidence that would demonstrate the effect incarceration would have on her.

In January, the court heard that Ms Rodgers was affected by a weight loss medication at the time of her offending, which occurred between October 2015 and August 2017.

On Monday, police prosecutor Ann Edge – who previously claimed Ms Rodgers was motivated by “greed, not need” when she defrauded health insurance company Bupa – said the beautician still hadn’t apologised for her deeds.

But Mr Cangelosi read from a written letter of contrition penned by his client, in which she apologises “from the bottom of my heart”.

The court is also expected to hear from two witnesses who will give evidence about whether Bupa was a “toxic workplace”.

Last month, the court heard Ms Rodgers defrauded her previous employer by making false claims against Bupa customer memberships.

Olivia Rodgers leaves the Hobart Magistrates Court.

She would contact the customers, telling them money was arriving in their account but that this was a mistake and they should transfer it back.

Ms Rodgers then provided customers with her own bank account details for these transfers to occur.

Ms Edge said the beautician funded her “lavish lifestyle of excessive spending and living beyond her means”, including an overseas trip to Bali and thousands of dollars each month on living expenses and personal shopping.

Ms Rodgers has since established a successful business as a self-employed makeup artist.

She will return to court on March 16 for mention.

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