A Perth-based manager-cum-fashion designer who was found guilty of stealing almost $163,000 from her former employer has been jailed for two years and eight months.
Chaynika Sethi was convicted in August on all 98 counts of ‘stealing as a servant’ from Maylands Physiotherapy clinic where she worked as a practice manager for ten years. “Stealing as a servant” is a law of Western Australia, which makes it a particular offence for an employee to steal from an employer.
The 35-year-old was sentenced in the District Court of West Australia on Friday.
Chaynika Sethi was convicted on all 98 counts of ‘stealing as a servant’ in August, 2019. Source: Instagram
Ms Sethi who worked as a part-time manager at the clinic siphoned money from the establishment’s bank accounts and later transferred the money to her own account over a 21-month period.
During a previous hearing, the court heard that she was reeling under financial stress with personal loans, mortgage and credit card arrears at the time.
The court was told that her former boss Arran McDiven was struggling with his own financial problems, and was forced to sell his new house and move his children from private to public school.
Mr McDiven told the court that he discovered the theft in 2017 when he stumbled upon an unusual payment, and when he confronted Ms Sethi, she became visibly affected and started “shaking and crying.”
She told him that she had stolen between $10,000 and $20,000 from him over two years, the court heard.
The mother of two explained to him that she was having financial problems after her husband’s business failed.
Mr McDiven retained her as staff after Ms Sethi agreed to return the sum and also surrendered her and her family’s passports so she couldn’t leave the country without paying him back, the court heard.
Prosecutor Sarah Kavanagh told the court that Ms Sethi initially paid a chunk of money back to her employer because she felt guilty, but continued to steal the following month.
Chaynika Sethi sentenced for stealing almost $163,000 from her former employer. Source: Instagram
She attempted to get a loan against the equity in her home to raise the money but didn’t work out.
When Mr McDiven suggested she sell the property, she “took it badly,” and accused him of harassing her threatened to “ruin his reputation and the clinic’s,” the court heard.
Ms Sethi's denial:
During the trial, Ms Sethi claimed that she didn’t steal $162,805, but it was transferred to her account by Mr McDiven "for staying silent" after he allegedly groped her during a physiotherapy session, a claim which was dismissed by the prosecution as a “complete fabrication.”
After she was found guilty, her then defence counsel Sean O'Sullivan secured bail for her and told the court that his client would repay the sum in the meantime, which the court heard on Friday had not been done.
Ms Sethi will have to serve half her sentence before she will be eligible for parole.
Parth-based fashion designer, Chaynika Sethi posing with her award. Source: Instagram
Her profile on her fashion label's website describes her as a "Sought-after (fashion designer) both locally and internationally, her signature ‘Power Suits’ — featured in British Vogue 2018— have built a stylish fan base amongst the fashionistas."
With inputs from AAP.
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