Angela Stathopoulos, a former charity manager, has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $500,000 from the Prahran Community Learning Centre (PCLC) over an 11-year period.
The 49-year-old, from Murrumbeena, spent the stolen money on lavish expenses such as concerts, holidays, designer clothes, and even petrol, funding a lifestyle that included trips to Disneyland and Harry Styles concerts.
Between May 2011 and March 2022, Stathopoulos embezzled $531,111.52, using her position as the head of PCLC to siphon funds meant for vulnerable children.
The money was spent on personal indulgences, including dance lessons for her daughter and more than $30,000 on petrol. She also spent over $128,000 on personal items, including clothing, beauty treatments, and entertainment.
In court, psychologist Carla Lechner testified that Stathopoulos “knew it was wrong” but could not resist an urge for “constant acquiring of goods for self-gratification.”
Lechner also explained that Stathopoulos’ actions were driven by an addiction to stealing and a need to acquire goods for herself and others, though she was not diagnosed with an addictive personality disorder.
Despite having the financial means to live legally, Stathopoulos opted to steal, with defence lawyer Joshua Sheppard suggesting that she could be sentenced to a community corrections order or a suspended prison term.
Stathopoulos’ lawyer also noted she had paid back the full amount of stolen funds with help from her husband.
The fraud came to light after a detailed investigation by the charity’s new chairperson, and forensic accountants revealed the extent of the theft. Initially denying the accusations, Stathopoulos later struggled to explain her lavish spending.
Former PCLC treasurer Maggie Burke told the court last month that Stathopoulos blocked access to financial records and refused to allocate funds to the charity while spending on personal luxuries.
As a result of the scandal, PCLC, which has since rebranded, suffered both financial loss and significant reputational damage, leading to the federal government withholding funds.
Stathopoulos was taken into custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
Source: Herald Sun.
