Another SA fraud case
May 7th, 2012 at 11:00 am by David FarrarStuff reports:
The former president of the Waikato Students’ Union, Denis John Tokunai, appeared in Hamilton District Court earlier this week facing a charge of theft from December.
It is alleged he stole a laptop worth $400, a smartphone worth $700, as well as keys and a swipecard worth $55 – all the property of the students’ union.
Tokunai is being considered for diversion and will reappear in court in July.
He was ordered to surrender his passport.
Noting the charges have not been proven yet (but talk of diversion suggests they are not contested), I point out Mr Tokunai submitted against the VSM bill, citing all the things which will be lost if there is no WSU. I guess that includes a laptop and a smartphone!
Related posts:
- Two arrests in electoral fraud case
- The 46 year old name suppression case
- Huge student association fraud
- The Yang Liu case
May 7th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Very good, David. Very good.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:52 am
A $400 laptop, what were they giving him, a netbook ? And they cared ? Stealing a swipe card as well, looks like a bad case of “forgot to return it after the term ran out” syndrome, pretty petty stuff. I’m actually surprised that it got to a prosecution, he must have ignored a few pointed reminders to return everything.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 11:56 am
So is your point that Students associations are not immune from dishonest employees in the same way that any business, government department, volunteer organisations are not immune or is it that he stole because he was a member of the Student Union and supported compulsory membership? I suppose it is fair to allege that compulsory membership of a student union is theft of sorts so you may well have a very valid point
As to diversion my experience left me frustrated with the entire process. I caught employee stealing cash which they had been doing for a period of time but the proof took time and additional cost to establish. The police recommended diversion which proved an utter waste of my time and theirs. Reparation was not enforced nor did I see a penny of it, a supposed letter of apology was not forthcoming and the police we not interested after the event, this employee was then employed by another business down the road despite my warning them of the past misdemeanour’s
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Mark, we have some employers who won’t look at a graduate because they don’t have experience, but that employer took on someone with their hand in the till? Was it a particularly skilled role? They must have been desperate…
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Ed Snack said:
A $400 laptop, what were they giving him, a netbook ? And they cared ? Stealing a swipe card as well, looks like a bad case of “forgot to return it after the term ran out” syndrome, pretty petty stuff. I’m actually surprised that it got to a prosecution, he must have ignored a few pointed reminders to return everything.
————————
They might be using the depreciated value for the notebook.
But I’m pleased that the Union brought charges against a former President. That indicates that they’re treating the matter impartially.
Vote:May 7th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Mark,
Complain to the Police Complaints Authority. Either the Police have failed to pass on the reparation money and the apology letter, or else the responsible constable and the prosecutor have misled the Court by telling the Court that diversion was completed. Both are serious and should be followed up.
Vote: