An Auckland man has been sentenced to home detention for the theft of grant funds from pokies.
Iosefa Ta’alo Ape, also known as Joesph Aiono, ran a basketball academy at the time of his offending.
An investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), revealed Ape had submitted fraudulent grant applications representing more than $75,000 in “fictitious costs”.
Ape was sentenced to six months home detention, six months post-detention, and was ordered to pay reparations.
“This type of dishonest behaviour will not be tolerated,” DIA gambling director Vicki Scott said.
“We are committed to holding people to account to ensure the financial benefits to communities from gambling are maximised, and the integrity of the grants system is not compromised.
“Every dollar of grant funding from class 4 gambling matters.”