PERTH MINT WORKER STOLE $40K IN GOLD

An IT technician working for the Australian Perth Mint stole AUD$55,000 (USD$41,000) worth of gold coins and bars "to maintain a lifestyle" demanded by his then-fiancé," according to the defense lawyer on the case.

Following court proceedings, the judge sentenced Joseph Charles Viola to two years in prison, requiring him to serve at least half the term before being eligible for early release.

Five gold bars and eight gold coins, including a limited edition Kimberley sunrise coin, were first discovered missing in an audit conducted by the Mint's security team, ABC News reported.

Once investigation began, the reviewed CCTV footage revealed Viola taking one of the gold coins from a vault, placing it in a computer tower, then transferring it into his trousers and leaving the Mint's premises.

It was also later discovered that Viola sold a number of Mint's coins and gold bars to a gold bullion dealer located just across the road. He made more than USD$40,000 from the transactions.

The state prosecutor Sarah Keogh said that Viola used his IT position to convince the Mint to change its security protocols, including not x-raying the computer hard drives by falsely claiming that this could have damaged the contents of the stored items.

To read the complete article, see:
News Bites Perth Mint's IT Guy Steals $40K Worth Of Gold To 'Shower' Fiance 'With Gifts' (http://www.kitco.com/news/2018-08-05/Perth-Mint-s-IT-Guy-Steals-40K-Worth-Of-Gold-To-Shower-Fianc-e-With-Gifts.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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