The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) is warning public servants about the consequences of fraudulent conduct in the workplace after a former Queensland Health payroll employee was today jailed for two years for defrauding the Queensland Government of nearly $40,000.
The 36-year-old Caboolture woman today pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to one charge of fraud contrary to Section 408C of the Queensland Criminal Code.
The former public servant was served with a Notice to Appear in Court in June 2014 following a CCC investigation into allegations that she fraudulently claimed overtime payments from Queensland Health.
The woman was temporarily appointed to the position of Service Coordinator at the Meadowbrook Statewide Roster Centre to help manage an increased workload following the introduction of the health payroll system in March 2010.
The court heard that between March 2010 and August 2011 the woman dishonestly claimed $39,352.19 in overtime.
She was today sentenced to two years imprisonment, to be suspended after three months.
The CCC’s Acting Executive Director, Corruption, Mr Paxton Booth said the sentence should serve as a strong warning to the broader public sector.
“Dishonestly claiming and being paid overtime for work you have not done is a serious criminal offence. If public sector employees defraud the Government, they can expect to be caught and prosecuted,” Mr Booth said.
“Public servants are paid with public money so they have an obligation to ensure any claim for overtime is honest and approved only in circumstances when it is entitled to be paid.
“It is totally unacceptable that public money was diverted from other essential health services which should benefit all Queenslanders.”
