Jail for scammer

Karen Hart
A HIGHTON credit controller who stole more than $50,000 of public money has been handed a jail sentence.
Marlene Rimmrodt, 56, of Reigate Road, was convicted and sentenced to six months jail suspended for two years and fined $6000 after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining payment and providing false information to Victoria’s WorkCover authority.
The mother of two pilfered $54,448 in WorkCover payments over 14 months, Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard.
Prosecutor for WorkCover Penny Lucas told the court Rimmrodt applied for payments after injuring her left shoulder while working at a Tullamarine freight company in 2003.
Rimmrodt was working as a credit manager on an annual salary of $85,000.
The multiple property owner’s claim for worker’s compensation was successful and she was paid $1050 a week.
The company later made her redundant.
Rimmrodt formally declared to the authority on a monthly basis that she was not engaged in any form of employment while receiving workplace injury compensation. But WorkCover investigations discovered Rimmrodt had been working in 2004 and 2005 at an electronics firm as a consultant credit controller, earning up to $3000 a week, and later for a company called Concord Park.
The court heard income was paid into an account in her late husband’s name.
“The essence of the workplace scheme is to assist people injured at work,” Ms Lucas told the court
“This strikes at the heart of the system.”
The court heard Rimmrodt, who felt guilt and remorse, had no friends and her children had disowned her following the charges.
In sentencing, Magistrate Jon Klestadt said he was prepared to accept that Rimmrodt had carried out fraudulent acts during a period of emotional turmoil, which included the illness and subsequent death of her husband, but said it was no excuse.
Mr Klestadt said he believed the defence’s claim that her financial situation was difficult but added he was “sceptical (about whether) it was quite as bad as you made out”.
Rimmrodt was also ordered to pay $54, 448 compensation to WorkCover and $2000 in costs.