New Zealand Police Credit Union

Posted onOctober 30, 2011 - 2:15 pm by Admin | 0 Comments

Susan Hagai was stealing $600 a day for almost seven years.

In total, she fleeced $1.2 million from the Hibernian Credit Union. But for Alola Frederickson, a Lower Hutt widow who lives on a pension, her loss was devastating. The amount, $600, was half of her life savings.

"It took years to build up that money," Mrs Frederickson told Wellington District Court yesterday. She can no longer afford the cataract operation she needs. Drinking a coffee in a cafe is also out of the question.

"At 73, I cannot go out to work, and feel very vulnerable should illness or large expense occur."

Hagai, 45, of Titahi Bay, was jailed for four years two months, for what Judge Susan Thomas called "sustained, premeditated, considerable offending".

More than 30 victim impact statements were provided to the court from Hibernian Credit Union members who face losing more than half of their deposits.

Some said the money represented their only savings or funeral funds. One couple said their Hibernian account was provided by grandparents to help give medical support to a disabled child.

"You must have known you were stealing from individuals, many of whom were vulnerable people themselves," Judge Thomas said.

The accounts administrator at Hibernian from 1994 until December 2010 was last month convicted on a representative charge of stealing $1,242,750.

However Hagai told police she may have taken around $1.5m since the offending began in 2004, Crown lawyer Geraldine Kelly told the court yesterday.

After being given the authorisation to sign cheques, Hagai had begun diverting money into accounts she or family members controlled, typically taking about $8000 at a time, twice a month.

The fraud went undetected for years, even after she was made redundant in December.

She later got a part-time job at Wellington bar The Four Kings where she also diverted thousands into family members' accounts.

The theft was detected this year during an audit, prompting a Serious Fraud Office investigation.

Hagai's lawyer, Christopher Stevenson, said the money was spent on her children, supporting the family's lifestyle and gambling.

Mr Stevenson read the court a letter from Hagai to her victims, expressing remorse for taking funds.

Hagai had acquired no substantial assets from the fraud, so there was no chance of repayment, although once contacted by police, she was immediately co-operative.

Hibernian president Mike McBride said most members of the society, set up in 1869 to provide social assistance for Catholics, were not wealthy – so the losses had been financially devastating for some.

"But for everyone, it is the fundamental betrayal of trust over such an extended period of time that hurts the most," Mr McBride said. "Susan dealt personally with many of our members, and many now feel personally betrayed."

Friday 22 July 2011, 9:24AM
By New Zealand Police
93 views

HAMILTON

Hamilton Police investigating Wednesday's aggravated robbery of a City business are hoping images taken from security camera footage will result in the offender being identified.

Detective Sergeant Daryl Smith of the Hamilton CIB said a man entered the Clerical Industrial Credit Union premises on the coroner of Victoria and Liverpool Streets shortly after 1pm.

"The man has approached the counter and demanded money from the staff while brandishing a machete in what could be described as a fairly stressful situation.

"Leaving with a small amount of cash the man then fled down Liverpool St in the direction of the Waikato River."

Mr Smith said given the situation the staff found themselves in, it was commendable they maintained their composure and complied with the offender's demands.

"They did all we could ask of them. At the end of the day money can be replaced where as lives cannot."

The offender is described as a male Maori, aged between 20-30-years-old with a pointed chin, of slim build and short to medium height wearing dark sunglasses, a black beanie, nylon jacket, trousers and beige to white shoes.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in or around the Credit Union building around the time of the robbery is asked to contact Detective Constable Fraser Simpson at the Hamilton Central Police Station on 07 858 6200 .

Alternatively information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 .

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