The secretary manager of the Kurri Kurri Bowling Club for 16 years has been sent to prison for defrauding the club of around $1.8 million through hundreds of fake transactions.
Victor Keith Dobing began in the role in 2001, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management and finances of the club.
After more than a decade in the position, according to court documents in the period from 2012 to 2017 he was found to have placed TAB bets on credit, with sums ranging from $5,000-60,000, using various means to then pay debts.
But in 2017 auditors for the club identified a suspicious outstanding transaction for $295,000 they deemed worthy of further analysis and Dobing was called to a meeting. He quickly admitted to his gambling issues, although he claimed the total of his deception was only about $200,000.
He promptly resigned and issued the Board a letter of apology, before relocating to Dubbo.
The Club informed the police, who began an investigation into what proved to be a complex web of deceit, and Dobing was not arrested until 2019.
Authorities charged him with five offences of embezzlement as a clerk, contrary to the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). He was believed to have used a variety of methods to cover his actions, which included false expense claims, fake invoices and writing fraudulent cheques to third parties for work that was not done, and sometimes even forging the signature of the club president.
Although Dobing at no stage denied the defrauding, he did dispute the total amount, and this issue and the subsequent disruption of COVID-19, led to repeated delays.
Early this year the matter was listed for a hearing scheduled for four weeks on contested facts, as the Crown initially alleged he embezzled $1,856,000. Representing himself, Dobing contended he had only received a benefit of about $500,000.
Forensic accountant Ashley McPhee was called to give evidence and was cross‑examined by Dobing, after which the defendant said he no longer wanted to contest the facts. The following day he plead guilty to the total of $1,788,805, over approximately 255 transactions.
In the years between, Dobing had begun work as a Lifeline counsellor and offered that this was to atone for his actions and to try to help others with addiction issues.
He returned to court at the end of May for sentencing, now aged 57, facing a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment, with no standard non‑parole period. He admitted to his deception, being to hide his secret gambling addiction.
Judge Sean Grant noted that at the community club, where all board members were volunteers while Dobing was being paid a salary of $140,000 and concealing his fraud for more than five years, his motive appeared to be based “purely on greed, not need”.
“The breach of trust was significant,” Grant said.
However, the judge also acknowledged Dobing’s remorse and contrition and the work he had done to rehabilitate himself since being caught.
The defendant was entitled to a five per cent discount for the “utilitarian value” of the plea, but Grant explained that general deterrence was a major factor in fraud cases and jailed him for a maximum of four years and nine months.
The non-parole period took into account Dobing’s age, future prospects and efforts toward self-rehabilitation.
“I really wish it didn’t happen, but we can’t turn back the clock,” Dobing said at sentencing.
“So now I just try to help other people not make the mistakes that I made or be in the position that I’m in.”
Kurri Kurri Bowls, established in 1911, will never recover the money lost.
