A woman once entrusted with organising camps and cultural activities in Tenerife has been convicted of embezzling nearly €80,000 from her employer in a shocking case of deception and betrayal.
Despite her lack of a prior criminal record, the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife found her guilty of continuous fraud after uncovering a calculated scheme that saw her abuse her position of trust for personal gain.
Employed as a technical director by a company specialising in recreational events, the woman was responsible for planning camps and managing their finances. However, while carrying out these duties, she diverted substantial sums of money into her own account, deceiving both clients and her employer in the process.
Capitalising on her close relationship with the company’s sole administrator, the woman even went so far as to invent a serious illness to cover her actions. Behind the scenes, she secretly accepted payments from schools, public administrations, businesses, and individuals using company facilities, then redirected those funds to her personal account.
The fraudulent activity took place over an extended period and involved various tactics, including direct bank transfers, ATM deposits, and the issuing of falsified invoices to hide the money trail.
In total, she embezzled €79,443 systematically siphoning off revenue that should have gone to the company. Her actions remained undetected for some time, in part due to the trust she had built within the organisation.
Ahead of the trial, an agreement was reached between her legal team and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. She admitted her guilt and agreed to a one-year prison sentence. However, the sentence was suspended on the condition that she does not reoffend within the next two years.
A key factor in the agreement was her decision to repay the full amount stolen before the court hearing. This restitution, along with her cooperation and lack of prior offences, was taken into account when determining her sentence.
The case has served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of even the most well-intentioned organisations when trust is breached. It has also highlighted the importance of oversight and transparency in financial management, especially in roles involving public and community engagement.
