The Wellington-based accountant pleaded guilty in Wellington District Court last November to accessing a school computer for cash and to pay, among other things, for room service, sweat shirts and a king-sized water bed.

In addition to being struck off the NZICA register, Mr Don has been ordered to pay $5594 costs and expenses to the institute for the tribunal hearing and the investigation by the professional conduct committee. Read more

David Don was sentenced on Friday 3 February in the Wellington District Court on eight charges of dishonestly accessing a computer system and one charge of money laundering.

As executive officer of the school he stole $126,728 over four-and-a half years which he spent on prostitutes, home repayments, a king sized bed and personal spending.

Source:

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: TVNZ

Don, 44, today pleaded guilty when he appeared in Wellington District Court to eight counts of dishonestly accessing a computer system and one of money laundering.

He stole a total of $126,728.01 over the five years he was employed by St Patrick's.

Judge Chris Tuohy remanded Don on bail for sentencing on February 3.

David Don, the former St Patrick's College Wellington executive officer is accused of stealing money from the College over a period of four years.

According to Mr McCarthy, Don had been taking increasingly higher amounts of money allocated for specific items and using the money for his own purposes.

The annual audits did not show gaps as the final spreadsheets were balanced, McCarthy said.

Acting Rector Wayne Mills said the school was confident all the money would be recovered.

The school would now ensure all invoices were for what they stated they were, he said.

"There was an abuse of trust, and you think things put in front of you are correct and you're signing them off."

Mr McCarthy commented that the Education Ministry may need to consider changing the "scope in the brief that school auditors are given. I think any school is probably at risk that relies solely on an annual audit."

St Patrick's had now laid a formal complaint with police about the incident, after weeks of searching through school records.

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Source

• Amanda Fisher: DominionPost
• Image: Phil Reid/ DominionPost