Employee took customers' cash to fatten own pockets

A former employee of a locally-based business outsourcing company, tasked with handling Arms Ltd’s customer service department, today admitted to fraud and misappropriation when she took customers’ cash amounting to some €15,000 and intended to settle bills to fatten her own pockets. Charmaine Camilleri, 41, from Marsascala, presently unemployed, was also charged with printing, taking possession of and disclosing computer data without the necessary authorisation. Customers calling on Arms Ltd's free phone with utilities queries and complaints regarding excessively high bills were answered by the accused who replied that she did not have a solution to their problems. However, shortly after hanging up, she would call back through her own personal phone and tell customers she could help them. These customers entrusted their money to the woman in the hope of resolving their problems. However, upon receiving fresh bills they realised that nothing had been done. Fresh bills showed the same outstanding amounts. Some customers even received a notice of disconnection of services. The prosecution presented copies of SMSs exchanged between some of the victims and the accused, receipts...