A former Queensland Transport (QT) employee was today sentenced to five (5) years imprisonment for defrauding QT of more than $250 000.
The CMC’s investigation uncovered that between 1 January 2000 and 3 June 2004, David Bell corruptly used his position as a senior adviser in service management at QT’s Zillmere Customer Service Centre to create false credits in various customer accounts.
Mr Bell applied those funds for his own use in a variety of ways, using refund cheques and cash paid to QT by legitimate customers to reduce the false credits.
In addition to creating false credits in excess of $250 000, Mr Bell also created a false 18+ identification card and a false Queensland driver licence after he was suspended from driving for three months. He also made a false declaration in relation to a traffic infringement notice concerning a red light camera offence.
Today, Mr Bell pleaded guilty to four charges under the Criminal Code, namely fraud, fraudulent falsification of records (2 counts), and making a false declaration.
In sentencing Mr Bell, Judge Rafter SC said he took into account that, at the time of committing the offences, Mr Bell had been suffering from depression following the death of his wife, and that he had made a significant repayment of funds to QT.
On the charge of fraud, Mr Bell was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, to be suspended after 15 months. On each of the other charges, he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. All sentences are to be served concurrently.
ENDS
