This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jul/19/victorian-liberal-ex-director-damien-mantach-jailed-for-stealing-from-party

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Victorian Liberal ex-director Damien Mantach jailed for stealing from party Victorian Liberal ex-director Damien Mantach jailed for stealing from party
(about 4 hours later)
Former Victorian Liberal state director Damien Mantach has been jailed for almost three years for stealing more than $1.5m from his party.Former Victorian Liberal state director Damien Mantach has been jailed for almost three years for stealing more than $1.5m from his party.
Mantach pleaded guilty to 15 charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage after it was discovered he had diverted $1,558,913 from Liberal party coffers using fake invoices.Mantach pleaded guilty to 15 charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage after it was discovered he had diverted $1,558,913 from Liberal party coffers using fake invoices.
Mantach was on Tuesday sentenced to five years in jail, with a non-parole period of two years and eight months, by Victorian county court judge Liz Gaynor.Mantach was on Tuesday sentenced to five years in jail, with a non-parole period of two years and eight months, by Victorian county court judge Liz Gaynor.
He has been behind bars since 18 November.He has been behind bars since 18 November.
The 42-year-old used fake invoices for work that was never done to take money from the Victorian Liberal party between 2010 and 2015.The 42-year-old used fake invoices for work that was never done to take money from the Victorian Liberal party between 2010 and 2015.
Mantach gave full details of his crimes to the party and police once his deception was discovered.Mantach gave full details of his crimes to the party and police once his deception was discovered.
Gaynor said Mantach told a psychologist he took the money because he was under personal financial pressure.“You told him ‘it was never actually about greed ... I had a number of personal issues that I was not dealing with’,” the judge told the court.Gaynor said Mantach told a psychologist he took the money because he was under personal financial pressure.“You told him ‘it was never actually about greed ... I had a number of personal issues that I was not dealing with’,” the judge told the court.
He was also under a lot of pressure in his role as the party’s Victorian director.He was also under a lot of pressure in his role as the party’s Victorian director.
“You found your position combative and nasty, but felt an obligation to stay because politics was all you knew,” Gaynor said.“You found your position combative and nasty, but felt an obligation to stay because politics was all you knew,” Gaynor said.
The thefts began in June 2010, continued until January 2015 and were discovered in August last year.The thefts began in June 2010, continued until January 2015 and were discovered in August last year.
Mantach’s wife Jodie – for whom he bought a cafe with more than $600,000 of the stolen money – left him the day after he admitted the fraud to Liberal party investigators, and divorce proceedings were under way, the court heard.Mantach’s wife Jodie – for whom he bought a cafe with more than $600,000 of the stolen money – left him the day after he admitted the fraud to Liberal party investigators, and divorce proceedings were under way, the court heard.
Mantach’s wife did not know about his offending.Mantach’s wife did not know about his offending.
“You believed it was only a matter of time before the offending came to light,” Gaynor said.“You believed it was only a matter of time before the offending came to light,” Gaynor said.
She said Mantach’s full cooperation with authorities was “exceptional” and had saved police months of investigative work.She said Mantach’s full cooperation with authorities was “exceptional” and had saved police months of investigative work.
Liberal MP Edward O’Donohue said he was pleased the matter had been completed and a number of administrative changes had been made to protect the party in the future.
“It was a breach of trust for the hard working volunteers and supporters of the Liberal Party and I’m pleased this matter has now been completed,” O’Donohue told reporters on Tuesday.
Tasmanian Labor leader Bryan Green said the serious punishment handed down was in stark contrast to the reaction of senior Liberals in his state.
He said Mantach should never have been allowed to steal $1.5m in Victoria and it was time a proper investigation was conducted into the handling of his alleged misconduct in Tasmania.