Globetrotting accountant turned high-stakes punter steals $250K of his boss’s money and blows it all on meth, cocaine and casino gambling sprees
- Mina Saad began stealing from his employer after only a month on the job
- Through 43 transaction, he stole more than $256,000 from Polivac
- He spent most of the money on gambling and drugs as well as lavish holidays
- After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison
An accountant who stole more than $250,000 from his employer and spent it all on drugs, gambling and lavish holidays has been sentenced to jail.
Mina Saad, from Melbourne, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft before he was sentenced to 12 months in prison on September 9.
The Latrobe University graduate began working at Polivac International Pty Ltd as an accountant in September 2015.
Just one month into the job, the 32-year-old started transferring money from Polivac and a second connecting company into his own bank account, The Herald Sun reported.
Pictured: Mina Saad stole $250,000 from Polivac after only one month on the job
Through 43 fraudulent transactions, Saad accumulated more than $256,000 which was discovered by Polivac’s new accountant in March, 2017.
Tony Antonious, Polivac’s owner, reported Saad to police in July, saying his company had been severely impacted by the fraud.
Mr Antonious added the deceit had not only affected his relationship with customers, suppliers and his overall business reputation – but it had also led to intense personal anxiety and stress.
After leaving the Kensington company in December 2016, Saad ran a pop-up coffee store in Camberwell.
He currently has his own personal training business and manages a gym.
Speaking to a psychologist, Saad said he carried out the crime because he had become involved with the wrong crowd and became invested in drugs and gambling.
Saad said carried out the crime because he had gotten involved with the wrong crowd and became invested in drugs and gambling
He also said he had been going through a difficult time with his ex-partner.
Saad admitted to spending $115,000 of his employer’s money at Crown Casino and claimed the rest was squandered on meth and cocaine.
But photographs presented during the plea revealed Saad’s grand lifestyle and exposed lavish trips he had made to Dubai and Thailand during his stealing spree.
He has since paid back $23,000, but Judge Scott Johns said his ‘extraordinary’ theft had left the companies in a ‘dire financial predicament’.
Photographs presented during the plea revealed Saad’s grand lifestyle exposing lavish trips he had made to Dubai and Thailand during his fraud
‘Employers must be able to conduct their business trusting those that have employed to be honest … especially where matters of accounting are concerned’, Judge Johns said.
‘You breached that trust on 43 occasions over a 13-month period not long after you first walked through the door.’
In addition to the 12 month sentence, Saad was also given a 30-month community corrections order.