A former public sector employee and her husband have admitted to fraudulently obtaining over $2 million from Oranga Tamariki - New Zealand's Ministry for Children, as per a report by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), New Zealand.
Neha Sharma, who served as the Property and Facilities Manager at Oranga Tamariki, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of obtaining by deception, money laundering, and using a forged document. Her husband, Amandeep Sharma, also admitted to obtaining by deception and money laundering; his sentencing is scheduled for 19 June.
The couple orchestrated the fraud by channelling government contracts to Amandeep Sharma's company, Divine Connection Ltd, without disclosing their relationship. Neha Sharma used forged references to secure her position at Oranga Tamariki and later at Waka Kotahi, another government agency. Once in her role, she facilitated payments totaling over $2 million to Divine Connection Ltd, a company not on the agency's approved supplier list.
The Sharmas also transferred nearly $800,000 overseas after their activities came under scrutiny and left New Zealand. The Police Asset Recovery Unit, in collaboration with Indian authorities, has located and restrained these funds, with proceedings underway to return them to New Zealand.
SFO Director Karen Chang stated, "These convictions mark an important milestone in the SFO’s prosecution of this case, which reinforces the serious consequences of abusing a position of trust for personal gain, especially when public funds are involved."
Neha Sharma, who served as the Property and Facilities Manager at Oranga Tamariki, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of obtaining by deception, money laundering, and using a forged document. Her husband, Amandeep Sharma, also admitted to obtaining by deception and money laundering; his sentencing is scheduled for 19 June.
The couple orchestrated the fraud by channelling government contracts to Amandeep Sharma's company, Divine Connection Ltd, without disclosing their relationship. Neha Sharma used forged references to secure her position at Oranga Tamariki and later at Waka Kotahi, another government agency. Once in her role, she facilitated payments totaling over $2 million to Divine Connection Ltd, a company not on the agency's approved supplier list.
The Sharmas also transferred nearly $800,000 overseas after their activities came under scrutiny and left New Zealand. The Police Asset Recovery Unit, in collaboration with Indian authorities, has located and restrained these funds, with proceedings underway to return them to New Zealand.
SFO Director Karen Chang stated, "These convictions mark an important milestone in the SFO’s prosecution of this case, which reinforces the serious consequences of abusing a position of trust for personal gain, especially when public funds are involved."
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