Government accountant in China cheats county of 6.8 million yuan, spends it on cosmetic surgery, luxury goods and new home
Accused says she turned to fraud because she felt depressed after her divorce
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 25 February, 2016, 4:39pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 25 February, 2016, 4:39pm
Gloria Chan
[email protected]
The woman accountant wrote fake cash vouchers to obtained 6.8 million yuan, most of which she spent, including 1.1 million yuan on plastic surgery. Photo: Reuters
A civil servant in southwestern China has pleaded guilty to fraud involving more than 6 million yuan (HK$7.14 million), half of which she spent on luxury goods and cosmetic surgery.
The Kunming Intermediate People’s Court in Yunnan province heard on Wednesday that Duan Hongyun created fake cash vouchers by forging her superiors’ signatures while working as an accountant at a subdistrict office in Shilin county from October 2013 to March 2015.
Using this method, Duan defrauded seven village committees of nearly 6.8 million yuan in total on 32 occasions.
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Duan spent almost all the stolen money, prosecutors said. The included 1.1 million yuan on cosmetic surgery, 1.6 million yuan on clothes and 2 million yuan on luxury items like handbags, jewellery and watches. She spent a further 1 million yuan buying and decorating a home.
While under investigation, Duan told police she turned to fraud as she felt depressed after her divorce.
In court, the prosecution said Duan should be guilty of corruption as she was a public servant.
The defence argued that she should be given a lighter sentence as she cooperated with police investigations.
Duan admitted her guilt in court and expressed sorrow “to the country, the collective and her colleagues”.
The trial lasted more than two hours. Duan will be sentenced at a later date.
