A woman is seeking leniency from her sentencing magistrate as she suffers from a brain injury due to drug use.
Yeannie Karina Barilla was a payroll officer for ABI services – a non-profit organization that provides assistance to those with acquired brain injuries in Australia.
The 36-year-old allegedly stole $141,000 from the organization before she had suffered a ‘very significant’ hypoxic brain injury due to illicit drug use.
Her scheme was revealed when the Australian Taxation Office contacted ABI services about non-payment of tax in May 2018.
As a payroll officer, Barilla was tasked to prepare documents for outstanding invoices, have those payments signed off by a company director then transfer funds to ABI Services’ suppliers.
However, an internal audit revealed that she altered those documents by replacing the suppliers’ banking details with her own so that a total of $141,379.29 was paid into her Westpac and ING accounts.
“The accused’s bank statements indicate that she spent those funds on gifts, purchasing personal items and to otherwise fund a lifestyle beyond her normal means,” a police statement of facts states.
Barilla had previously stolen $20,958 from Presbyterian Aged Care in 2017, when she generated false wage slips and directed funds into her bank account.
She pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception last Friday, but sought to have her offending dealt with under the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act rather than the criminal law.
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton heard Barilla is now suffering from cognitive impairment, acted impulsively, had limited ability to reason and would be vulnerable in custody.
Barilla is sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, and Stapleton ordered that she be assessed for home detention.