Court Hears Ex-Hockeyroo Faked Cancer Letters to Defraud Charity
11 October 2017 at 1:56 pm
National charity Redkite said it “acted immediately” to terminate the employment of former Hockeyroo goalkeeper, Kate Hubble, who pleaded guilty in a Sydney court last week to making and using false documents to obtain financial advantage.
Media reports of the court hearing said Hubble faked medical letters to defraud the cancer charity regarding work options and treatment for terminal cancer.
The reports said Hubble, aged 32, was working for the cancer charity when she used the identities of real oncologists to fake letters so she could transfer to Sydney to allegedly undergo radiation therapy.
The letters included a medical certificate describing the serious cancer treatment she would undergo.
Reports of the court hearing said her fraud had cost Redkite, an Australian cancer charity that supports children and young people with cancer and their families, more than $50,000 in salary, sick leave and other costs.
It was reported that a statement of facts presented to the court showed Hubble began working for Redkite in Sydney in 2014, before being promoted in 2015 to a job in her home state of Western Australia.
That same year it was alleged she produced two letters from a Perth oncologist that said she was unfit for work and then only able to work part-time. Hubble then asked Redkite to be transferred to the Sydney office on “compassionate grounds,” so she could undergo further treatment.
A statement from Redkite provided to Pro Bono News said: “Earlier this year, Redkite summarily terminated the employment of the individual who appeared in NSW Magistrates’ Court this week.
“Redkite acted immediately upon becoming aware of possible misconduct and referred the incident for investigation to the NSW Police.
“Redkite has provided every assistance to the NSW Police in investigating this matter. As this matter is before the court, Redkite will make no further comment.
“Our focus, as always, remains with the continual delivery of our essential support to children and young people with cancer and their families.”
Hubble is expected to be sentenced next week.
