Latest news with #AmandeepSharma
RNZ News
19-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Husband of Oranga Tamariki employee gets home detention for role in defrauding agency of more than $2m
Amandeep Sharma in court in May. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown The husband of a former Oranga Tamariki employee who helped his wife defraud the agency of more than $2 million has been sentenced to 12 months' home detention. Amandeep Sharma pleaded guilty to obtaining by deception and money laundering in May after he and his wife Neha Sharma kept their marriage secret and funnelled public money through his construction company Divine Connection Ltd. Neha Sharma, who was jailed for three years in May, kept the conflict of interest concealed as she approved the company's invoices, got him jobs that could have been carried out by other companies and even carried out work for the company during office hours. Less than two weeks after the Serious Fraud Office knocked on their front door, the couple booked two one-way business class to India, after transferring just under $800,000 overseas. Justice Eaton said he seriously considered jailing Sharma but sentenced him to home detention in order for him to seek rehabilitation and support his daughter. "The attitude you have displayed is worrying. It is indicative of a lack of accountability and does in my view display a degree of entitlement, perhaps arrogance," he said. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director Karen Chang said Sharma and his wife took advantage of her position of trust for their own financial gain. "It is critical that we disrupt behaviour of this kind, which damages the integrity of our public institutions and threatens our reputation as a safe place to invest and do business," she said. "Corrupt behaviour by public servants is a key focus for the SFO, and we are currently advancing initiatives that will strengthen the New Zealand public sector's overall resilience to fraud and corruption." The SFO filed charges against the couple in 2023 alleging Neha Sharma had provided false references to secure her role at Oranga Tamariki where she managed aspects of properties in the Canterbury region, including maintenance, upkeep, and modifications. Neha Sharma set up her husband's company as a contractor without declaring a conflict of interest and then assigned work to this company over others suppliers, at a cost of $2.1 million to Oranga Tamariki. She then applied for a role at the transport agency, for which she also provided a false reference. The SFO said police seized the funds the couple had transferred. It said proceedings to return them to New Zealand were underway, while the High Court had issued a restraining order over the couple's properties in New Zealand. Chang thanked the police and Indian authorities for their swift action and the co-operation of Oranga Tamariki and the transport agency in the investigation.
Scoop
19-06-2025
- Scoop
Husband Who Worked With Public Servant Wife To Defraud Oranga Tamariki Of $2 Million Sentenced In SFO Case
A man who worked with his public servant wife to fraudulently obtain more than $2 million from Oranga Tamariki Ministry for Children was sentenced today, after pleading guilty to charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Amandeep Sharma was sentenced in the Christchurch High Court today to 12 months' home detention. His wife, former Oranga Tamariki Property and Facilities Manager Neha Sharma (nee Chandrasekaran), was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in May. Mr and Mrs Sharma pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining by deception for fraudulently obtaining approximately $2.1 million from Oranga Tamariki. The money was obtained through Mr Sharma's company, Divine Connection, without Oranga Tamariki knowing. The husband and wife team also pleaded guilty to money laundering for transferring just under $800,000 overseas once the offending was discovered, then immediately leaving New Zealand. Mrs Sharma also pleaded guilty to one representative charge of using a forged document. Mrs Sharma used forged references to gain employment at Oranga Tamariki, and again to gain employment at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency directly after leaving Oranga Tamariki. SFO Director, Karen Chang says, 'Mr Sharma and his wife took advantage of her position of trust for their own financial gain. It is critical that we disrupt behaviour of this kind, which damages the integrity of our public institutions and threatens our reputation as a safe place to invest and do business. 'Corrupt behaviour by public servants is a key focus for the SFO, and we are currently advancing initiatives that will strengthen the New Zealand public sector's overall resilience to fraud and corruption.' The SFO filed charges against Neha Sharma and her husband Amandeep Sharma in June 2023. The SFO alleged that Mrs Sharma provided false references to secure her role at Oranga Tamariki, where she managed aspects of properties in the Canterbury region, including maintenance, upkeep, and modifications. Once in the role, Mrs Sharma set up her husband's company, Divine Connection, as a contractor without declaring a conflict of interest. She then ensured work was assigned to his company over other approved suppliers. In total, Oranga Tamariki paid Divine Connection just over $2 million. Following her resignation from Oranga Tamariki, Mrs Sharma applied for a job at Waka Kotahi. Mrs Sharma again provided a false reference to secure her new role. The money laundering charges relate to almost $800,000 transferred to overseas bank accounts in India. The Police Asset Recovery Unit, in close co-operation with colleagues in India, has located and restrained these funds. Proceedings are underway to return them to New Zealand. The High Court has issued a restraining order over the couple's properties in New Zealand upon application by the Commissioner of Police, pursuant to the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009. 'We would like to acknowledge the Police and Indian authorities for their swift action and assistance in securing the offender's assets, as well as the co-operation of Oranga Tamariki and Waka Kotahi in the investigation,' says Ms Chang.
Independent Singapore
20-05-2025
- Independent Singapore
Couple who defrauded S$1.5 million in New Zealand flew away in Singapore Airlines business class to evade justice
SINGAPORE: After it was discovered that a husband and wife had defrauded Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand's Ministry for Children, of more than NZ$2 million (S$1.5 million), they attempted to evade justice by fleeing New Zealand on a business class flight operated by Singapore Airlines. Neha and Amandeep Sharma, of Indian origin, took a one-way flight to Chennai with 80 kilos of luggage. With the help of Indian authorities, the couple was apprehended and returned to Christchurch. Since then, Neha Sharma, who pleaded guilty to deception, forgery, and money laundering, among other charges, earlier this month, has been sentenced to three years in jail. Her husband, similarly, entered a guilty plea to deception and money laundering and will be sentenced in June. Neha Sharma worked as a property and facilities manager at Oranga Tamariki, while Amandeep Sharma was a director for Divine Connection, a construction company. Importantly, the two kept their marriage a secret, and Divine Connection was added to the ministry's list of contractors. What was a serious conflict of interest was unknown to officials at Oranga Tamariki. Neha Sharma approved contracts for her husband's company and approved invoices for payment to Divine Connection. She also worked for the company during office hours. By March 2023, New Zealand's Serious Fraud Office raided their property, and the investigation that followed showed that Neha and Amandeep Sharma had obtained more than NZ$2 million from the ministry. The investigation also showed that Neha Sharma had forged some documents she submitted when she first applied to work at Oranga Tamariki in 2021. When she was put in charge of managing all the property aspects relating to properties in a specific region, she added her husband's company as a contractor, working behind the scenes to manipulate the system to bypass the needed checks for Divine Connection. According to a report in the New Zealand Herald, between Jul 22, 2021, and Oct 28, 2022, Oranga Tamariki paid the company 103 times for 326 invoices. Neha Sharma resigned in November 2022 but managed to get another job at the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) by Dec 12, again using falsified references. See also HK activists, Beijing supporters demonstrate in London When their three properties were raided the following March, the couple sprang into action, buying one-way tickets to Chennai and fleeing quickly. The ministry has welcomed the couple's convictions. 'Corruption of this kind is utterly unacceptable. Oranga Tamariki takes any case of fraud extremely seriously, as evidenced by its actions when concerns about this staff member's activities were raised,' said Oranga Tamariki chief executive Andrew Bridgman. /TISG Read also: 3 men charged with fraud in alleged connection to movement of Nvidia chips
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Indian-origin couple defrauds $2 million in New Zealand through secret marriage, flees to Chennai, wanted to retire at 35
Neha Sharma, Amandeep Sharma convicted of fraud in New Zealand. (Photo: Social media) Neha Sharma and her husband Amandeep Sharma have pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges in New Zealand after they conned a New Zealand government agency out of more than $2 million. When their secret arrangement came in the public, they booked one-way tickets on Singapore Airlines to Chennai, in business class, the New Zealand Herald reported. How did the Indian-origin couple defraud the government agency? Neha Sharma was a manager at Orange Tamariki, the ministry of children, in New Zealand. Her colleagues did not know that she was married to Amandeep Sharma, the director of Divine Connection which was silently added to the ministry's list of contractors -- in a grave conflict of interest. 'We have a robust plan in place ... and I will support you for becoming an entrepreneur. Celebrate retiring below 35! Not many get this opportunity," Neha messaged her husband when concerns were raised in the office about this particular contractor -- as the paperwork had some gaps. The duo continued to dupe the agency for two years with Neha using her access to pass on favors to her husband's company. The police recovered their chats they exchanged whenever there was any suspicion in the agency. In March 2023, the Serious Fraud Office raided the couple's property and it was found out that they obtained more than $2 million from Oranga Tamariki. At that time, they both resigned from their respective positions. Within two weeks after the raid on their properties, the couple booked two one-way tickets to Chennai. They boarded the flight with 80 kg of luggage between them. Before leaving, they tried to liquidate their properties and cars and transferred under $800,000 in cash from their bank accounts in New Zealand to accounts held in India. Neha shows no remorse, blames 'baby brain' Neha Sharma was jailed in the High Court at Christchurch earlier this month for three years. She blamed the scam on baby brain -- a state of impaired memory supposedly experience during pregnancy or after giving birth. There was no evidence of remorse or offer of reparation in her, the report said. The couple's older child had been taken back to India with Amandeep's sister. Amandeep pleaded guilty last week and is awaiting sentence which will take place in June.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Indian couple in New Zealand admit $2 million fraud on Ministry for Children
Live Events 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 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 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 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.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)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."
