Following an investigation by the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, charges have been laid against the former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation (RivMed) for dishonestly misusing her position.
The Registrar alleges that on 28 separate occasions Ms Selena Joan Lyons knowingly received corporation funds, totalling $28,048.90, to which she was not entitled.
On 27 occasions, from 14 October 2011 to 17 April 2014, the Registrar alleges that Ms Lyons authorised the payment of travel or accommodation allowances to herself for days that she was not travelling for work purposes or another organisation had already paid for her travel, accommodation and meals. The Registrar also alleges that on 29 October 2012 Ms Lyons misused the corporation’s credit card by making an unauthorised purchase.
Twenty-seven charges have been brought against Ms Lyons under section 265-25(3)(a) of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). One charge has been brought under section 265-25(3)(b) of the CATSI Act. The charges carry a maximum penalty of between $220,000 and $340,000 or imprisonment for five years, or both.
RivMed is a large, well-established medical and dental centre providing high quality and culturally safe health care to Aboriginal people in and around Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. It was first incorporated in November 1988.
‘CEOs and directors hold special positions of trust and are required at all times to act honestly and in the best interests of the corporations they represent,’ said Mr Beven. ‘My office has taken strong action where these standards have not been met—this is the third matter that I have brought before the criminal courts in just the last two months where I have alleged that those standards have not been met.’
Ms Lyons is due to appear before the Wagga Wagga Local Court on Wednesday, 21 September 2016.
The matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Media contact
Patricia Gibson (02) 6146 4743
ORIC MR1617-04
8 August 2016