A former union bookkeeper charged with defrauding the National Union of Workers of almost half a million dollars allegedly spent the cash on Botox treatments, buying and maintaining a luxury Audi, and paying more than $150,000 rent for her friends and family. Danielle O’Brien, the niece of former union boss Derrick Belan, was arrested in November along with her uncle and charged with 155 fraud offences totalling $430,000. Mr Belan was charged with 24 fraud offences totalling $440,000. Their charges ranged from dishonestly obtaining financial advantage or causing disadvantage by deception to stealing property from an employer and knowingly participating in a criminal group and deriving a $191,000 benefit from the group. According to documents tendered in Mount Druitt Local Court, Ms O’Brien splashed out on clothing, electronic goods, personal items, beauty treatments and luxury cars during a five-year spending spree.
