Former Tipene Funerals director Fiona Bakulich has been sentenced to two years and three months in jail after pleading guilty to 14 charges, including interfering with human remains and defrauding clients.
Over a seven-year period, Bakulich scammed at least 11 families, wrapping bodies in plastic instead of using the coffins paid for and pocketing over $15,000.
Her crimes came to light after Cyclone Gabrielle revealed missing inner caskets during exhumations.
Victims described the betrayal as soul-destroying, and Bakulich offered no explanation or apology. Tipene Funerals expressed deep regret and apologised for her actions.
If it was a man, he would have got 5 years.
Poison cancerous human profiting of peoples misery
I get a little queasy around dead people. I cant even imagine the planning and effort this woman who convinced her victims of doing the right thing then turns around, pulls a up coffin’s opens it up, removes bodies, puts them in a plastic bag, shoves them in the ground.
Then the police who had to dig up the bodies, or at the least supervise, identify and document them. Have them reburied.
WTF is that!!!
2 years prison is woefully short.