April 5, 2010 4:30pm by David Farrar

Nats get robbed

A former National Party treasurer has been sentenced to 100 hours community service after taking more than $4600 in party funds.

Michael John Gibbs, 36, the treasurer of the party’s Wigram branch between September and December 2008, pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday to the theft of $4636.

Judge Stephen Erber sentenced Gibbs to 100 hours community service.

I don’t know Gibbs, but it almost looks like he became Treasurer to steal money, as he only served for three months – his offending must have started at once.

The police summary of facts said Gibbs set up an internet banking account and was able to transfer money from the party’s bank account without following procedures that required withdrawal slips to be signed by two members of the Wigram branch.

This makes me wonder how this happened. If two signatures are needed, then the internet banking access should have been set up requiring two users to authorise.

By December 2008, he had completed 12 internet bank transactions totalling $4636.

In February last year, a new treasurer found there was only 10 cents left in the party’s Wigram account.

Pretty damn stupid, as obvious he would be found out.