FRUSTRATION has been expressed about the progress of a police investigation into the alleged theft of at least $27,000 in cash from Glen Innes Severn Council by two former staff members in separate incidents this year.
In recent days the Examiner has learnt of the two incidents involving former staff members who have been dismissed over the incidents.
In the first, said to have taken place in late April, a former senior member of staff discovered that a clerk was stealing money through fraudulent receipting. The staff member then notified Director of Corporate and Community Services Lotta Jackson and General Manger Hein Basson, who launched an in internal investigation, which revealed that $19000 had been stolen since January.
The staff member, who is alleged to have also been involved in another workplace theft only weeks before, was then dismissed and asked to pay back the money. Unable to do so, her car was voluntarily surrendered in lieu of the debt, as part of an agreement with council.
In the second alleged incident, around six to eight weeks after the first, the senior staff member who had reported the first theft was herself discovered by a junior employee to have stolen around $8000.
In response to questions from the Examiner about the incidents, Mr Basson yesterday confirmed that there were two instances where where cash was unaccounted for, that police were informed in both instances, while all councillors were told "immediately after I became aware of the incidents.”
Mr Basson said the Department of Local Government was aware of the incidents and ICAC had also been informed and "are satisfied that a due process had been followed and that all necessary action steps had been taken".
He also confirmed that the private car owned by the former senior staff member “is in the process of being sold, either through expressions of interest or by auction, for more or less the amount owed to council”, he said. Meanwhile the amount of the second theft was likely to be covered by insurance.
“In both cases I have dealt with the matters through proper and due process,in accordance with the industrial arm of the Local Government Association," Mr Basson said.
Glen Innes Severn Mayor Steve Toms said the issue was of major concern, and expressed his frustration at the pace of the inquiry.
"It's bad enough when one incident happens, but when two happen in the work place, that is of real concern.
"Once it was discovered there was very decisive action taken to isolate the problem and rectify it," he said.
"This is a very serious matter. There are workplace disciplinary processes in place, and dismissal is one, but there's no reason why disciplinary action shouldn't also happen outside the workplace. These matters were reported to police at the time, and it is very frustrating that things seem to have come to a bit of a standstill," he said.
Cr Toms said he was confident with internal investigations into how the thefts occurred.
"There have certainly been reviews in that department, testing both incidents, and a later policy passed by council reinforces that.
"One of the strengths of the accounting software used is that (the fraudulent) transactions) have been traceable electronically, allowing a full investigation to happen."
He said the incident had impacted staff greatly: "everyone in a state of shock; it's been very upsetting for those in the workplace, particularly other senior staff."
The Examiner understands the issue, in the hands of Inverell-based detectives, was initially being investigated by one detective who had since been transferred to another area command. Late yesterday afternoon Inverell police confirmed the case was not yet closed.
"Investigations are continuing," Detective Sergeant Peter Kelly from Inverell police said.
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