A man accused of stealing more than AU$20 million (US$18.4 million) from an Australian university used some of the money to bail out a struggling professional basketball club, a court heard Wednesday.
Former Flinders University employee Christopher Fuss allegedly spent AU$50,000 of the money he stole helping the Adelaide 36ers, and another AU$160,000 buying a star player, The Advertiser reported.
The player's name has not been revealed.
The university has launched Supreme Court civil action against Fuss claiming he "misappropriated" more than AU$20 million while working as a cashier between August 2007 and January 2010.
It is alleged the 46-year-old, of Glengowrie in Adelaide, who received an annual salary of AU$58,000, used some of the money to buy a property in the suburb of Glenelg for AU$1.7 million.
Fuss has been in custody since January 22 after being charged with five counts of deception.
The Adelaide 36ers have been one of the most successful clubs in Australia's National Basketball League.
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