Keneally thief fed gambling addiction
Paul Bibby
Court Reporter
Victim ... author Thomas Keneally. Karen Myhang Chau, 39, repeatedly transferred large sums from six customers' accounts into her own account at the ANZ between October 2010 and January this year, and was charged with six counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage.
Among Chau's victims were Thomas and Judith Keneally, from whom she stole $71,300 while working as their personal account manager.
During Chau's hearing in the Downing Centre Local Court, her barrister, Sheridan Goodwin, told the court that her client's gambling addiction was the motive for her offending.
The court heard Chau had a series of problems in her life before committing the crimes, including a miscarriage and the breakdown of her marriage.
As her gambling addiction worsened she fell further into debt. The court heard her parents were forced to take out a second mortgage on their home to pay her debts when her life was threatened by a debt collector. Chau was now being sued by the bank and had been forced to file for bankruptcy as she had ''nothing to repay the debt''.
Court documents show the 39-year-old carried out the fraud with the aid of a ''smart card'' which, along with a bank-issued user name and password, gave her access to customers' accounts. She used this information to make 72 unauthorised automated funds transfers, crediting her personal ANZ account with $247,614. She was eventually caught out by bank investigators on January 10.
Yesterday magistrate Jane Mottley sentenced Chau to a minimum term of 12 months' imprisonment, with a maximum of 18 months. However, she said the 39-year-old should be assessed for home detention, indicating that this would be the most likely outcome if it were found suitable.
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