Judge Lisa Tremewan told the Waitākere District Court at Fuataha’s sentencing on Thursday that the logged computer activity was “illuminating” and “damning” evidence.
Fuataha defended seven counts of knowingly providing false information to Inland Revenue to get tax refunds in a trial before the judge last October.
Judge Tremewan’s decision of guilt on the seven charges was released in May.
The judge told the court yesterday that Fuataha incorporated the company Only1 Company Limited in February 2016, with herself as the sole director and shareholder.
The company was listed as a call centre and plaster-stopping business. From incorporation to early 2017, Fuataha made seven false returns on its behalf during that period.
She ultimately claimed for around $860,000 and Inland Revenue deposited more than $111,000, the judge said.
When a final $750,000 return was claimed in March 2017 it alerted Inland Revenue’s system and a letter was sent to Fuataha, announcing that the return would be “withheld”.
The department’s computer surveillance showed Fuataha opened and read that letter, the judge said.
The next month she made several “unsuccessful” attempts to amend the return, telling the department in one message that she had meant to claim for $75,000.
She said the $750,000 claim had been made in error, accidentally adding an extra digit because of the bad internet connection while she was in Ethiopia.
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