The Canberra Times has the terrifying news that the Magiatrate’s Court has just given up completely.
Between 2006 and 2008, Capewell rorted the Commonwealth agency out of $10,000 by failing to declare income. Commonwealth prosecutor Anne-Marie Tucker yesterday said the Gordon woman was failing to declare as much as $1000 a fortnight at the time.
Capewell was convicted in November 2009 and ordered to complete 250 hours of community service.
A reparations order also instructed her to pay back the $10,000 but, as of yesterday, $4500 was still outstanding and 65 hours were uncompleted.
Magistrate Doogan made all the right noises about the authority of the court and the criminal justice system, but then just gave up completely:
Ms Doogan said no sentence other than imprisonment was appropriate, but she jailed the woman for nine days and released her after taking into account time served. Capewell will also remain on a good-behaviour order for 12 months and must pay court costs of $117. She was not required to finish the community service hours.
So basically, just ignore them and they’ll go away!