47-year-old Kahu Junior Stephens from Randwick Park has been sentenced for embezzling nearly $500,000 from his employer, Tyco New Zealand Limited over several years through a payroll scam.
Stephens, who worked as a warehouse distribution manager, manipulated the payroll for temporary employees, including keeping a former employee on the payroll for years and involving family members unknowingly in the fraud.
Despite the elaborate scheme leading to a significant loss for Tyco, Stephens managed to repay the embezzled amount in full, contributing to his sentence of home detention for one year.
His actions were driven by greed and the desire for a lifestyle beyond his means, according to the court, which noted the premeditated and persistent nature of the fraud. The judge considered Stephens’ guilty plea, remorse, and lack of prior relevant convictions in the sentencing.
