A former Australian Border Force officer who used his work credit card to make unauthorised cash withdrawals, hotel bookings and a hire car booking has been jailed and ordered to repay close to $100,000.
Pablo Olivares faced the Brisbane District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to offences including forgery and theft occurring between July 2016 and June 2017.
A total of 134 unauthorised cash withdrawals, several unauthorised hotel bookings and an unauthorised car rental booking on Olivares’ corporate credit card were uncovered by an investigation between the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity and Department of Home Affairs.
“The former ABF officer used his position to obtain a financial benefit and cause a detriment by defrauding the Commonwealth,” Integrity Commissioner Jaala Hinchliffe said in a statement.
“Mr Olivares deliberately used his official powers and discretions for an improper purpose in numerous instances.”
Olivares also uploaded 13 false medical certificates to cover periods of sick leave and used two false statutory declarations in a bid to substantiate charges to his corporate card.
Potential corruption was initially detected by his supervisor tasked with completing his outstanding monthly credit card reconciliations while Olivares was on personal leave.
He was stood down from his duties before formally resigning from ABF a few months later.
Olivares was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and is eligible for release after five months.
He was also ordered to repay the total of $93,898.75.
AAP
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