Arabic version: ثلاثة يتجنبون السجن في قضية احتيال على «بوبس»

According to ABC News, three people who defrauded Canberra electrical wholesaler POPES Electrical and Data Supplies have been sentenced to intensive corrections orders rather than jail. Ricky Byrne, 50, Steven Quilter, 46, and Lisa Quilter, 47, pleaded guilty after offending that contributed to the closure of two stores and the lay-off of 12 staff.

Between 2016 and 2019, Byrne and Steven Quilter were managers at POPES’s Phillip store. They used false invoices, refunds and stolen stock to defraud the business of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Electrical goods bought from Harvey Norman were charged to the employer’s credit card or account, then invoiced to POPES customers who had made similar purchases, or returned for refunds paid into personal accounts.

The pair also stole stock from POPES. With Lisa Quilter’s help, they sold goods to other businesses or on eBay. The conduct was uncovered in 2019 after a POPES client queried their account, and Byrne and Steven Quilter resigned weeks later. A March 2025 police search of the Quilters’ Gold Coast home found electrical goods, including items with Harvey Norman receipts consistent with the offending.

Accountants found POPES recorded losses of more than half a million dollars, including $250,000 repaid to deceived clients. In the ACT Supreme Court, Acting Justice James Stewart described the impact as “devastating” and said the offending was organised, dishonest and a gross breach of employee trust.

All three will serve their sentences in the community. Byrne received a two-year intensive corrections order, Steven Quilter 35 months and Lisa Quilter 18 months. Byrne and Steven Quilter must also pay combined reparations of $250,000 to their former employer.