Club accused ‘flees’

ERIN PEARSON
A WOMAN facing court over the alleged theft of $180,000 from Torquay Golf Course tried to flee to Queensland, according to police.
Nicole Muscat, 31, is now in jail on remand after police arrested her at Brisbane Airport last Friday.
Torquay Police alleged Ms Muscat was on bail when she reported her intention to attend a funeral in Melbourne but then boarded a flight to Queensland.
Officers apprehended Ms Muscat hours later in Brisbane, police said.
Ms Muscat had pleaded not guilty to 38 counts of theft and 27 charges of false accounting.
She had been bailed and was due to appear in court for sentencing next month.
Police said she would now remain in custody until her County Court hearing.
The court heard last month that Ms Muscat allegedly stole the money between January and September, 2007, when she was working as the club’s gaming manager.
Police arrested her for the alleged theft on September 12 and seized evidence from her Anglesea home.
Ms Muscat appeared before the Melbourne Country Court on Tuesday following her arrest in Queensland.
She will reappear in court for sentencing on July 12.
Meanwhile, an alleged burglar accused of targeting a dozen Surf Coast businesses will learn his fate next week.
Police allege that Craig Doherty, 39, of Belmont, was part of an organised drug and burglary ring.
Mr Doherty faced court on charges related to a series of burglaries that police allege netted his group of four men more than $200,000 in stolen goods.
Police charged Mr Doherty with burglary, handling stolen goods and trafficking amphetamines.
He will face court again on June 22.
The Geelong Magistrates Court heard police intercepted around 3000 phone calls between three men and Mr Doherty regarding the handling of stolen goods and trafficking methamphetamines.
Police also charged Ryan Stalker, 30, of East Geelong, in relation to burglaries and attempted burglaries on Torquay businesses.
The men allegedly targeted more than a dozen Surf Coast businesses and caused thousands of dollars damage between April 26 and May 6.