₹1.78 Crore Salary, ₹32 Lakh In Taxpayer-Funded Flights: Why Former Tourism Australia CFO Was Sentenced

(MENAFN- Live Mint) A former chief financial officer of Tourism Australia has been sentenced after using taxpayer-funded money to cover unauthorised business-class flights and upgrades worth nearly A$50,000 (approximately ₹32.39 lakh), while earning an annual salary of A$275,000 (around ₹1.78 crore).

Quan Liu, also known as Christine Liu, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by the NSW District Court. However, she will serve the sentence in the community under an Intensive Correction Order, according to reports.

The case relates to six trips to China over a 14-month period between 2022 and 2023, during which Liu allegedly obtained unauthorised business-class flights and upgrades at the expense of taxpayers.

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Liu earned an annual salary of A$275,000 (approximately ₹1.78 crore), while serving as the organisation's chief financial officer.

She was found to have improperly obtained nearly A$50,000 (around ₹32.39 lakh) in taxpayer-funded travel benefits through unauthorised business-class flights and upgrades.

The court ordered her to repay approximately A$13,000, or around ₹8.42 lakh, in addition to the A$36,000 (approximately ₹23.32 lakh) she had already repaid.

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Liu pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining a financial benefit from a Commonwealth entity and falsifying official documents in connection with her cousin's Australian business visa.

The charges were brought under Section 135.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 and Section 234(1)(c) of the Migration Act 1958.

The court considered several factors while determining the sentence, including Liu's remorse, rehabilitation, lack of previous convictions and the onset of major depressive illness, as well as concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Judge Ross Hudson told Liu:“This a jail sentence but you're servicing that jail sentence in the community,”

The judge also warned her“that this matter will never leave you”.

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AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said public officials entrusted with taxpayer resources were expected to act with integrity.

“Those entrusted with public resources have a responsibility to act with integrity, and the AFP will not hesitate to investigate conduct which may breach this trust.”

The case highlights the accountability expected of senior executives handling public funds and the consequences of misusing taxpayer-funded resources.

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