A former Queensland Health employee has been sentenced to two years’ prison, to be suspended after three months, for fraud.
Karma Elms, 36, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for illegally claiming $39,352 worth of overtime and penalty payments.
The court heard Elms, from Caboolture, was working long hours during the Queensland Health pay debacle when she claimed the overtime.
Magistrate Wendy Cull said the fraud was planned and systematic, but she noted Elms had an economically and socially disadvantaged childhood and now supports her mother.
“Your background is such that during a severely socially and economically deprived childhood you were incredibly resilient,” Magistrate Cull told the court.
“On the day you left Year 12 you left your caravan home and an abusive third stepfather relationship – you have always supported and cared for your mother.
“Clearly you are a poor manager of your personal finances and have spent money that far exceeded your income.”
Elms was hired by Queensland Health in the March 2010 to help manage the increased workload following the introduction of the department’s flawed payroll system.
She was appointed to the position of Service Coordinator at the Meadowbrook Statewide Roster Centre.
The Crime and Corruption Commission’s acting executive director of corruption Paxton Booth said the sentence should serve as a strong warning to the public sector.
“Dishonestly claiming and being paid overtime for work you have not done is a serious criminal offence,” he said.
“If public sector employees defraud the Government, they can expect to be caught and prosecuted.”
The former Labor Government’s $1.2 billion payroll system debacle saw thousands of Queensland Health workers underpaid, overpaid or not paid at all.