A former employment agency director in Australia has been convicted of breaching her directors' duties and sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment.

The director, Rachel Edwards, was immediately released on a three-year good behaviour bond.

From 9 February 2009 to 26 Janurary 2016, Edwards was the sole director of employment agency Westpower Victoria, which has been liquidated.

Between 15 January 2010 and 23 September 2011, Edwards made 175 withdrawals totalling AUD 619,897.71 (USD 446,273) from a Westpower bank account and deposited the funds into a personal account.

Westpower went into liquidation on 5 January 2012 with debts totalling over AUD 930,000 (USD 669,446), including AUD 735,680.36 (USD 529,568) owed to the Australian Tax Office.

Edwards pleaded guilty before the County Court at Melbourne on 24 January 2022 and was sentenced on 17 February 2022.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted the matter following a referral from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Edwards is automatically disqualified from managing corporations for five years due to her conviction.