Accused of stealing $57k, she skipped court with a hospital note. One missing detail the prosecutor spotted made her own lawyer drop her

Stealing from one's workplace is already a crime, but 51-year-old Katrina Leoni, a woman from Swannanoa, a small village in New Zealand, did not seem to have learned her lesson. Leoni was supposed to appear at the Christchurch District Court on November 10, 2026. However, she told her attorney, Michael Starling, that she was undergoing medical treatment and could not make it. She even provided him with a medical certificate to support her claim. She almost got away with it, but one sharp-eyed prosecuting attorney crumbled her claims, Stuff reported.

Missing NHI number

Leoni was accused of allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from Freight Base, her former workplace. She was charged with two counts of "theft by a person in a special relationship." Leoni did not appear for her hearing on November 10, and Michael Starling informed Judge Quentin Hix that she was unwell. He showed the Judge the medical certificate and handed the prosecuting attorney a copy as well.

Apparently, this was not the first time Leoni did not appear for a court hearing. Judge Hix questioned Starling, "What’s the prognosis? I see she was also unwell for another appearance on the 7th of October?" He told the Judge it was a different medical issue, and not related to the one she mentioned that day. Leoni almost got away with it, but the prosecutor asked for more time to go through the document. After some time, he said, "This is looking slightly doctored," and pointed out, "There is no NHI (National Health Index) number."

Permission to drop client

Starling was left shamed-faced in the courtroom. He had no clue that Leoni gave him fake documents to present in court. What he said next was proof of it. Starling announced, "The prosecutor has checked the letter...it is not genuine. On that basis, I can’t resist a warrant (to arrest)." He also asked the Judge for permission to "withdraw (as Leoni's lawyer)." He explained, "I can’t continue to act for a person who handed me a document that is illegitimate to provide to the court," and added, "I will notify her... but I won’t be her lawyer." Judge Hix accepted Starling's request and issued a warrant for Leoni's arrest.

Different types of theft

Surprisingly, theft at work is more common than you think. A 2025 survey from Business.com found that 67% of employees admitted to some type of theft at their current workplace. But only 6% admitted to stealing money or some sort of merchandise from their current job. Moreover, a 2026 report by QBE North America found that 80% of risk managers reported that their companies experienced some type of employee crime during the last 12 months. This included fraud, embezzlement, and theft. On a more positive note, 35% of the respondents said they managed to get back 51% to 75% of whatever was stolen from them.

Misused access

Leoni had access to Freight Base's accounting systems and invoices. She was suspected of having stolen from them between May 2024 and June 2025. The court document stated (as shared by Stuff), "Having control of property, namely accounting systems and invoices of Freight Base in circumstances that she knows requires her to deal with the property in accordance with the requirements of any other person…intentionally dealt with the property otherwise than in accordance with those requirements and thereby committed theft."

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