THE former director of a company which operated an aged care facility in Mentone Victoria has been charged with fraud.
Mrs Gela Anne Newitt used Parklane Assets Pty Ltd to operate the Mentone Gardens Supported Care Home.
It is alleged that on two occasions in February 2009 and March 2009, Newitt dishonestly obtained a financial advantage for herself by falsely representing to residents of Mentone Gardens that their deposit money would be held in a trust account and that interest gained from this money would be used to reduce accommodation fees.
It is also alleged that on two occasions in January 2010 and July 2010, Newitt dishonestly appropriated deposit money belonging to residents with the intention of permanently depriving them of their money.
The charges were brought against Newitt following an investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Council for Newitt appeared on her behalf in the Melbourne Magistrates Court earlier this month. Newitt did not enter a plea and the case was adjourned to a committal mention on August 2.
Mentone Gardens, a 42 bed aged care facility, was placed in liquidation in 2013, leaving many residents and their families owned hundreds of thousands of dollars.
