Two pub managers spent $25k on free drinks for employees for years

Two former pub managers who shouted themselves and their colleagues to $25,000 worth of booze have been sentenced on fraud charges.

John Solomon Tomun, 54, and Patrick Pryce Gibuma, 46, who were the manager and assistant manager at Pormpuraaw United Brothers Sports Club in Cape York, committed the offences between 2013 and 2014.

The staff were allowed two free drinks after a shift according to Crown prosecutor Gelma Meoli, however, it had become common for the pair to hold drinking sessions sometimes until 2am for themselves and their co-workers.

‘Your misplaced generosity had overwhelmed your judgment’ Judge Dean Morzone said.

‘What eventuated was that at times there were up to 15 staff members after most shifts and they were consuming not just their allocated two free drinks,’ Ms Meoli said.

At the time of the offence Gibuma was vice-president of the club’s board and an elected Pormpuraaw Shire councillor.

Tomun’s defence barrister Michael Dalton said that rather than calculated dishonesty or deception this was a case of ‘a startling lack of judgment that strayed into mismanagement.’

‘They simply didn’t draw a line,’ Gibuma’s defence barrister said.

Both men were convicted and sentenced to two years’ jail, however, the terms were wholly suspended for three years.

The maximum penalty for this type of offending is 12 years, though both men demonstrated to the court an effort to begin repaying the money back.

‘It seems that your misplaced generosity had overwhelmed your proper exercise of judgment and obligations as employees to the club.’ Judge Dean Morzone said.

John Solomon Tomun, 54, and Patrick Pryce Gibuma, 46, who were the manager and assistant manager at a pub in Cape York, committed the offences between 2013 and 2014