Property agent blows $900,000
Jim Kelly
September 23, 2006 02:00pm
A SETTLEMENT agent who stole almost $1 million from clients and blew it on poker machines at Burswood Casino has been jailed for three years.
For two years Susan Lynette Pollard, owner of LJW Settlements, in Applecross, pilfered stamp-duty payments from her company's trust account and gambled it.
Pollard, of North Lake, admitted 50 charges of stealing between August 2002 and June 2004. The mother of two stole a total of $890,000 in amounts between $1000 and $16,000 before turning herself into authorities.
The Office of State Revenue knew it was owed the money but, apart from a few phone calls, did nothing to recover the funds or investigate where they had gone.
Pollard's lawyer, Kevin Bonomelli, told the District Court on Friday that the money was fed into Burswood's poker machines.
"People generally don't appreciate the addiction that gambling is,'' he said.
"It is an insidious problem for those that are caught in its grip.
"Clearly, she was a pathological gambler. She had an addiction.''
Mr Bonomelli said the amount lost would have been far less if the Office of State Revenue had followed up Pollard's monthly stamp-duty declarations, as it was required to do.
The department became concerned when she confessed to gambling away the money. ``It was a case of slackness on their part,'' Mr Bonomelli said. ``She would just fob them off.''
Pollard was stripped of her settlement agent's licence and had herself banned from the casino before undergoing counselling.
State prosecutor Brad Hollingsworth said in court that Pollard could have confessed much earlier, but had selfishly continued gambling.
Chief District Court Judge Antoinette Kennedy said Pollard had an otherwise exemplary record and had co-operated fully with authorities after facing up to her addiction and confessing to the crimes.
Pollard is eligible for parole, but must serve a minimum of 18 months.
The gambled money has been paid to the Government from the Settlement Agents Fidelity Fund.
A compensation hearing to determine if Pollard will be made to repay any money will be held at a date to be set. |
