Byline: HELEN COOK
A BANK secretary who is accused of stealing pounds 4.5million went on 'astonishing' spending sprees, a jury was told yesterday.
Joyti De-Laurey, 34, allegedly blew up to pounds 300,000 at jeweller's Cartier, thousands more on air fares and a small fortune on fast cars.
She also spent pounds 750,000 on a villa in Cyprus, which came with a brand new Range Rover parked in the garage, the prosecution claimed.
And she allegedly ordered a pounds 175,000 Aston Martin and a pounds 150,000 power boat, neither of which was delivered.
De-Laurey, 35, took more than pounds 1million from the account of Goldman Sachs managing directors Jennifer Moses and Ron Beller in June 2000, prosecutor Stuart Trimmer told Southwark crown court in London.
When they left, De-Laurey began to plunder the account of another MD, Scott Mead, 49, until May 2002, taking over pounds 3million, said Mr Trimmer.
He claimed that in January 2002, pounds 2.25million was transferred to an account in Cyprus, which De-Laurey wanted to use to start a new life there.
Mr Trimmer said she was 'very careful' not to set off any 'alarm bells'. Before allegedly raiding her victims' bank accounts, she would always make sure there was enough cash to cover the transfers.
Her husband Anthony, a chauffeur for Lloyds Registry, told police he had 'no clue' how much his wife earned. Mr Trimmer added: 'He said he was not aware of a Cyprus bank account.'
De-Laurey's mother, London GP Devi Schahhou, 67, told police she had 'no knowledge' of a bank account being opened in her name or any transactions, said Mr Trimmer.
De-Laurey, from North Cheam, Surrey, denies 21 charges between 2000 and 2002.
Her husband pleads not guilty to five charges of assisting in the retention of the proceeds of criminal conduct and three of acquiring, using or possessing such proceeds.
De-Laurey's mother, who lives in Hampstead, North London, denies four charges of retaining and one of acquiring.
The trial continues.
WHAT SHE'S ALLEGED TO HAVE SPENT
NOVEMBER 2001
pounds 7,925.22 to Cartier
pounds 5,292.67 Cartier
pounds 4,262.93 Sports Evenings International
3,259.35 Cypriot Pounds (CP)
Walton Marine Sales (approx pounds 3,830)
pounds 1,698.35 Harrods Limited
DEC 21 2001-
JAN 11 2002
17,771.13 CP
Cartier
2,110 CP
Kanaris Jewellery
1,960 CP
Cyprus Air
MARCH 2002
pounds 4,969.91 Harrods Limited
pounds 1,777.83 British Air
pounds 1,650 Kanaris Jewellers
Payment to Cartier
FEBRUARY 2002
5,196.64 CP Cyprus Air
13,275.18 CP Cartier
1,296.36 CP Computer Cab
pounds 11,349.45 Group 3 Aviation for flying lessons
FEBRUARY 13-18
pounds 39,462.53 Cartier
April 2002
pounds 19,378.19 Keith Prowse at Lloyds TSB for tickets for sporting events
pounds 10,036.21 Charity Jo's Trust (Joyti was known to the charity as a VIP in the mid 90s)
APRIL 22-27
pounds 21,128.23 British Air
MAY 2002
Payment to Cartier
Payment to John Armit Wines
MAY 8
Payment to Cartier
UNKNOWN
pounds 30,800 Chrysler Grand Voyager
pounds 27,900 Saab 9.3 Convertible
CAPTION(S):
ACCUSED: De-Laurey at the court yesterday; Picture: GETTY IMAGES; TASTE: Wine; pounds 30K: Chrysler Voyager
