Former employment agency director Rachel Edwards (also known as Konito Pakoti) of Werribee, Victoria, has been convicted of breaching her directors’ duties and sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment. She was immediately released on a three-year good behaviour bond.

From 9 February 2009 to 26 Janurary 2016, Ms Edwards was the sole director of employment agency Westpower Victoria Pty Ltd (ACN 135 293 873) (in liquidation).

Between 15 January 2010 and 23 September 2011, Ms Edwards made 175 withdrawals totalling $619,897.71 from a Westpower bank account and deposited the funds into a personal account.

Westpower went into liquidation on 5 January 2012 with debts totalling over $930,000, including $735,680.36 owed to the ATO.

Ms Edwards pleaded guilty before the County Court at Melbourne on 24 January 2022 and was sentenced on 17 February 2022.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted the matter following a referral from ASIC.

Ms Edwards is automatically disqualified from managing corporations for five years by virtue of her conviction.

Background

Edwards was convicted of breaching s184 of the Corporations Act 2001, which at the time of her offending carried a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment or 200 penalty units.