A pregnant Melbourne woman has been jailed for running an unlicensed conveyancing business and stealing more than $100,000 from clients.
Meganita Marannu, 31, was jailed for 12 months in the County Court on Friday after pleading guilty to causing a deficiency in a trust account and two counts each of obtaining financial advantage by deception and theft.
"You found yourself in a position where you unable to support yourself and your dependents and turned to this dishonest conduct in order to meet basic financial obligations caused by daily living expenses," Judge Julie Condon said.
The woman, who is six-and-a-half months' pregnant, had previously run a conveyancing business in Preston but her licence was cancelled in May 2016, the court was told.
However, she continued to operate the company and transferred $97,618 from a trust account into her own personal accounts.
She also stole another $32,903.50 from clients, meant for property settlements.
The woman's husband was a solicitor who was jailed for defrauding clients and she was left to care for their two children and her in-laws.
"Alone and isolated, you found yourself under significant financial and emotional stress," Judge Condon said.
Marannu was also handed a three-year community corrections order.
Australian Associated Press
