A man has been sentenced to 15 months’ jail for stealing a $50,000 gold bar by hiding it in his underwear.
Matthew Alexander Roussety, 27, was working as a Perth Mint security guard when he smuggled the one kilogram bar from the refinery at Perth Airport in December 2016.
The bar was a reject and going to be melted before Roussety took it home in his pants, ABC reported.
Matthew Alexander Roussety (pictured), 27, has been sentenced to 15 months’ jail after he stole a $50,000 gold bar from the Perth Mint by hiding it in his underwear
Roussety was working as a Perth Mint security guard when he smuggled the one kilogram bar (pictured) from the refinery at Perth Airport in December 2016
Roussety set off metal detectors when leaving the refinery, but walked away by convincing security officers his metal zip was to blame.
He then pocketed $44,500 when he took the bar to a second-hand gold dealership three months later, signing a declaration saying he legally owned it.
The money was used to pay off his car and credit card debts, according to the publication.
Roussety’s plot unravelled when the dealership attempted to sell the bar back to the Perth Mint.
Judge Bruce Goetze labelled Roussety’s crime as one of ‘greed and self-indulgence’, adding that it caused low morale among Perth Mint employees who were questioned by customers over its security.
Roussety (left) was working as a Perth Mint security guard when he smuggled the one kilogram bar from the refinery at Perth Airport in December 2016
Judge Bruce Goetze labelled Roussety’s crime as one of ‘greed and self-indulgence’, adding that it caused low morale among Perth Mint (pictured) employees who were questioned by customers over its security
Defence lawyer Gavin MacLean argued that his client simply had a ‘brain snap’, and had experienced ‘genuine shame’ since, Perth Now reported.
But Judge Goetze said Roussety had committed a ‘very serious’ offence and had breached trust.
Roussety has already returned $25,000 to the gold dealership and will continue to pay the remaining amount owing in $400 monthly installments.
He will be eligible for parole after serving half of his term.