Contractor arrested over $40m NAB fraud
Detectives have arrested a company director in Sydney over an alleged fraud against NAB totalling $40 million over five years.
NSW Police on Friday arrested Human Group director Helen Rosamond, 43, at her Potts Point home and took her to Kings Cross police station where she's expected to be charged with 56 bribery charges and two counts of obtaining benefit by deception relating to $6.6 million.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the "corporate corruption" was between the financial training company and a financial institution.
A NAB spokesperson on Friday said the alleged fraud against the bank was first reported by a whistleblower.
"NAB responded immediately, investigated and reported it to police," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee."
The bank stressed that "NAB is the victim in this matter".
"Police have confirmed that no one at NAB is under investigation, including former CEO Andrew Thorburn, and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by anyone at NAB."
Rosamond is the owner of the training company, Mr Smith said on Friday.
NSW Police allege the $6.6 million was paid in bribes to ensure "contract viability" and to overpay legitimate contracts.
The acting assistant commissioner told reporters the total amount involved in the alleged fraud was some $40 million. The criminal behaviour occurred between 2013 and 2017, he added.
The relationship between Human Group and NAB dates back 12 years with contracts worth $118 million.
"I won't rule out further charges or further arrests," Mr Smith said.
Asked about the scale of the alleged fraud he noted: "The involvement of CEOs and very senior executives is something that we haven't seen before."
He noted everyone "watched in horror" when the 2017 royal commission into the banking sector uncovered some "pretty poor behaviour".
Australian Associated Press