A Corruption and Crime Commission investigation has resulted in a former senior
Pilbara public servant today being sentenced to two-and-a-half years jail on two charges
of defrauding the Pilbara Development Commission of a total of $72,000.
District Court judge, Simon Stone, said 42 year-old Allyson Joyce Grant, who pleaded
not guilty to the fraud charges but was found guilty by a jury, was motivated by greed
when she falsely claimed a State Government subsidy which encouraged employees to
work in remote and regional areas.
He said Ms Grant, who was the Chief Finance Officer at the PDC, signed a false
statutory declaration in 2003 to receive a $175 a week subsidy for which she was not
entitled as she already part-owned a house in Port Hedland.
She submitted another application for the subsidy when it was increased to $500 a week
in 2007.
Judge Stone said Ms Grant received regular payments over the period and described
her criminal conduct as sustained and continual at a time when she was in a position of
trust at the Pilbara Development Commission.
He said a victim impact statement from the PDC stated her actions had harmed staff
morale and damaged its reputation.
