In a tale that reads like a thriller, a former St George bank staffer stands accused of orchestrating a complex fraud scheme, allegedly exploiting her position to fund a lifestyle of opulence and excess. Westpac, the parent company of St George, is now embroiled in a legal battle with the accused, Sara Daizli, as she vehemently denies a litany of charges laid against her.

The allegations paint a picture of deceit and cunning, with police claiming that between February 2016 and December 2018, Daizli used her role to create phantom accounts and divert substantial sums of money. The 32-year-old is accused of channeling these funds into accounts under a false identity, effectively lining her pockets with money that wasn't hers to take.

The audacity of the alleged crimes is staggering, with Daizli facing 120 charges, including dealing with the proceeds of a crime and 108 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception. The sheer volume of charges suggests a systematic abuse of trust and position, raising questions about the oversight and controls within the banking institution.

A former St George employee is being tracked by Westpac after fraudulent transactions between 2016 to 2018. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Giselle A

As she appeared in the Sydney Downing Centre District Court, dressed in a short beige dress, a long white blazer, and black high heels, the gravity of the situation was palpable. Her lawyer, Abigail Bannister, disclosed that in addition to the criminal charges, Daizli is also contending with civil proceedings initiated by Westpac Bank in connection to the alleged fraudulent activities.

The complexity of the case is further compounded by the civil proceedings, with Bannister issuing subpoenas to Westpac for documents that may relate to both the criminal and civil cases. Westpac's legal representation has expressed concerns about the breadth of the subpoenas, suggesting that the volume of documents requested could be overwhelming and potentially oppressive.

The bank's struggle to understand the relevance of the requested documents, without an outline of Daizli's defense, adds another layer of intrigue to the proceedings. With the trial set for September, there is a palpable urgency to resolve these issues, lest the trial date be jeopardized by delays in document production.

Acting Judge Graeme Henson has adjourned the matter until July 19, urging both parties to narrow down the disputed issues. The case is a stark reminder of the potential for individuals within the banking system to exploit their positions for personal gain, and the challenges faced by institutions in preventing such breaches of trust.

For our readers at the Seniors Discount Club, this case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of vigilance in financial matters. It's a reminder to regularly review bank statements, understand the safeguards in place at your financial institutions, and report any suspicious activity immediately. Trust is a cornerstone of banking, but as this case demonstrates, it can be exploited by those with nefarious intentions.

Key Takeaways

• Former St George bank employee Sara Daizli is accused of fraudulently opening accounts and submitting loan applications to obtain funds for her personal use.
• Ms Daizli is facing 120 charges related to financial fraud and has pleaded not guilty to all allegations against her.
• Westpac Bank is involved in civil proceedings against Ms Daizli, seeking to recover funds related to the alleged fraud.
• The complexity of the case and volume of documents involved have led to concerns about the potential impact on the trial date, which is set for September.

We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences with banking security. Have you ever encountered suspicious activity in your accounts? How did your bank handle the situation? Join the conversation below and let us know how you protect yourself against potential financial fraud.

 

[Zorro56]

In my 25 years as a Bank Officer I saw many attempts at attempted fraud, but 99.9% of them did not end well for the offender. The Banks do have very tight controls and checks and balances, and used to have a large team of Internal Auditors, who were quite often the ones that caught out the offenders. But some of the schemes I saw were quite elaborate and brilliant, but they still came undone. The other complication in my day, was that the offender was often a Manager or very senior, therefore if you suspected something, and questioned it, you were told all was fine and you did not dare go over a superiors head. Of course all of this may have changed 30 years on.

 

[JimmyFlatrock]

The story is very light on detail. Unless I missed it, not even her position is revealed. So it's difficult to comment upon except in a very broad sense.

If she is in it up to her neck, then the fact that the bank itself is both overwhelmed and confused as to the reasons her lawyer is asking for a coupla truck loads of documents, suggests a high level of planning gone into what to do if she was caught out.

Cutting costs invariably means cutting staff. Auditors, OH&S, training staff and HR would all be at the mercy of a bonus focussed Quota person, Eager to meet KPI's.

Knowledge retention becomes a serious issue. One with enough experience of various systems and procedures would indeed be able to run rings around many who should know the answers but don't.

 

[Knell]

The story is very light on detail. Unless I missed it, not even her position is revealed. So it's difficult to comment upon except in a very broad sense.

If she is in it up to her neck, then the fact that the bank itself is both overwhelmed and confused as to the reasons her lawyer is asking for a coupla truck loads of documents, suggests a high level of planning gone into what to do if she was caught out.

Cutting costs invariably means cutting staff. Auditors, OH&S, training staff and HR would all be at the mercy of a bonus focussed Quota person, Eager to meet KPI's.

Knowledge retention becomes a serious issue. One with enough experience of various systems and procedures would indeed be able to run rings around many who should know the answers but don't.

Yes, little detail but it appears that she and husband are accused of defrauding banks, not customers. As you say, knowledge of the system is the issue. Reminds me of the Melissa Caddick case. Seemingly so simple in retrospect.

 

[JimmyFlatrock]

The story is very light on detail. Unless I missed it, not even her position is revealed. So it's difficult to comment upon except in a very broad sense.

If she is in it up to her neck, then the fact that the bank itself is both overwhelmed and confused as to the reasons her lawyer is asking for a coupla truck loads of documents, suggests a high level of planning gone into what to do if she was caught out.

Cutting costs invariably means cutting staff. Auditors, OH&S, training staff and HR would all be at the mercy of a bonus focussed Quota person, Eager to meet KPI's.

Knowledge retention becomes a serious issue. One with enough experience of various systems and procedures would indeed be able to run rings around many who should know the answers but don't.

Yeah, there is more to this story. I did not notice the link in the article earlier.

Simple enough to make up a scenario that fits what is alleged. Bank employee, say a loans person, puts together a loan application (probably a personal loan, not housing) in a false name and opens up a new savings account in that name. Approves and funds the loan (maybe purchase a car from a private sale) into the new savings account then withdraws and issues a bank cheque in favour of a name for which she has previously opened an account. And away we go.

Do it enough times (looks like 120 odd times in this instance) and you have plenty to make repayments on existing loans to stave off any arrears that would see investigations started.

Always the greed does them in after situation becomes too complicated or repayments too much.

Barrister asking for full files in all instances will have Banks wondering around scratching heads if the fraudster has destroyed documentation.

Sneaky crook. Good looking to boot. Easy to convince some to look the other way.

 

[Luckyus]

Yes, little detail but it appears that she and husband are accused of defrauding banks, not customers. As you say, knowledge of the system is the issue. Reminds me of the Melissa Caddick case. Seemingly so simple in retrospect.

It doesn't matter who she f\defrauded, if it was the banks it will ultimately came back at you? If they are found guilty they should be forced to pay any and all restitution even if they have to sell up. I remember just after WW2 my father and his brothers started a business and the accountant rather foolishlessly robbed them? They got their money plus interest and the accountant spent fourmonths in hospital to repent on his sins Ah the good old days.

 

[Knell]

It doesn't matter who she f\defrauded, if it was the banks it will ultimately came back at you? If they are found guilty they should be forced to pay any and all restitution even if they have to sell up. I remember just after WW2 my father and his brothers started a business and the accountant rather foolishlessly robbed them? They got their money plus interest and the accountant spent fourmonths in hospital to repent on his sins Ah the good old days.

Absolutely agree! It is a dog act! I certainly was not condoning it.

 

[marni]

The story is very light on detail. Unless I missed it, not even her position is revealed. So it's difficult to comment upon except in a very broad sense.

If she is in it up to her neck, then the fact that the bank itself is both overwhelmed and confused as to the reasons her lawyer is asking for a coupla truck loads of documents, suggests a high level of planning gone into what to do if she was caught out.

Cutting costs invariably means cutting staff. Auditors, OH&S, training staff and HR would all be at the mercy of a bonus focussed Quota person, Eager to meet KPI's.

Knowledge retention becomes a serious issue. One with enough experience of various systems and procedures would indeed be able to run rings around many who should know the answers but don't.

You do wonder how some lawyers can sleep at night, elaborating such a defence as to make it impossible to comply. I think she would have checked out if she can be paid at the end, or is the taxpayer footing the bill again against these criminals