The former manager of a Tamworth-based agribusiness insurance broker has plead not guilty to charges of fraud.
Mark Chapple, who worked for agri-insurer AgriRisk from 2004 until last year, denies the charges against him which relate to several dealings over his decade with the brokerage, ABC reports.
The Northern Daily Leader reports that, according to court documents, Chapple is accused of obtaining $57, 121.85 dishonestly throughout his time with AgriRisk. It is alleged that while at AgriRisk, Chapple issued additional invoices to clients through a private company so none of the transactions made it to the AgriRisk books.
AgriRisk told The Leader that it was "...very disappointing to discover some of our clients have allegedly been defrauded by a former staff member. As a consequence AgriRisk have arranged for the immediate reimbursement to those affected clients,"
Former clients of Chapple and AgriRisk came forward to report the invoice irregularities and the company were made aware of the issue.
Appearing at Tamworth Local Court earlier this week, Chapple plead not guilty to four charges of obtaining money by deception and four counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advice by deception.
The case has been adjourned until January.
