K200,000 theft puts woman in jail

National

By DAPHNE WANI
A Gulf woman was jailed for four years by the Waigani National Court this week for stealing more than K200,000 from her former employer in Port Moresby in 2013.
Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika convicted and sentenced Joyce Moripi for conspiring with Gewa Gagara and obtaining  K207,000 through false pretence.
Moripi at that time was the property manager of Century 21 Real Estate in Port Moresby.
She pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to defraud and obtaining the money.
The State said Moripi conspired with Gagara on different dates to defraud the company.
The court heard that there were 19 invoices which had different dates, all totalling K207,000 obtained between Jan 4 and Sept 10,  2013.
It was alleged that she split the amount with Gagara.
The court also heard that she gave a large sum to her boyfriend who she claimed was threatening and abusing her physically and verbally.
She expressed remorse and told the court that she was pressured by her boyfriend during the period.
Sir Gibbs said there was no evidence if her boyfriend knew Moripi was stealing from the company and if there was, he could also be charged with receiving stolen properties.
Sir Gibbs said Moripi corruptly engaged and converted Gagara into a corrupt person to approve the transactions.
He said Moripi held a good job but she breached all the trust that was entrusted to her when she stole from her employer.