Promoted to finance administrator on her mother’s recommendation, Ariana Thompson-Bell stole nearly half a million dollars from an un-named Waikato charitable trust in a two year false invoicing scam.
Her mother made partial reimbursement.
On appeal to the High Court, Justice Becroft confirmed Thompson-Bell’s two years three months term of imprisonment, with $100,000 reparations to be paid.
Trust members asked she be spared jail. While views of victims expressed at a restorative justice conference are relevant, they are not determinative, he said.
The court was told Thompson-Bell has a commerce degree from Waikato University, working for a short time at KPMG.
Her mother subsequently offered her promotion to a finance role at the Trust, given Thompson-Bell’s qualifications and her desire for job flexibility while raising a family.
Thompson-Bell had been working for the Trust in lesser roles since 2014.
Over a two year period, Thompson-Bell stole nearly half a million dollars in over eighty separate transactions; creating false invoices, making payments into various accounts she controlled, plus an account set up in the name of her twelve year old child.
Evidence was given that money stolen was used to fund her lifestyle; travel, restaurant meals, plus supermarket shopping.
The thefts were noticed only after suppliers complained about non-payment of legitimate invoices they had sent to the Trust.
Thompson-Bell’s mother made partial reimbursement of some $66,000; described as advance payment on her daughter’s inheritance. Thompson-Bell herself repaid about $12,000 before sentencing in the District Court.
On appeal, Thompson-Bell claimed insufficient credit had been given on sentencing for her good character, particularly her work within the community.
Prolonged offending limits any claim of good character, Justice Becroft said.
The name of the Trust was supressed on grounds of potential reputational damage. The Trust relies on public funding.
Thompson-Bell v. R – High Court (3.12.25)
26.032