17 December 2015

Trusted employees sentenced for corrupt behaviour

Two former employees of Thermakraft Industries (NZ) Ltd (Thermakraft) appeared in the Auckland District Court today and were sentenced for fraud and corruption.

Peter Sanele and Mark Treadwell had faced charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and pleaded guilty to those charges in October this year.

Mr Sanele was sentenced to 10 months on home detention.

Mr Treadwell was sentenced to five months on community detention and 200 hours of community work.

A Secret Commissions Act charge against the pair related to a company in which Mr Sanele and Mr Treadwell had an interest, JMP Transport Ltd (JMP), which supplied freight services to Thermakraft. The defendants secretly received kickbacks for contracts between JMP and Thermakraft.

Two other charges against Mr Sanele related to a company MacPallets, which supplied pallets and other packaging materials to Thermakraft. Between 2009 and 2013, Mr Sanele submitted 51 false invoices to Thermakraft on behalf of MacPallets.

The total amounts received by Mr Sanele and Mr Treadwell as a result of their offending were $261,030 and $90,000 respectively.

SFO Director, Julie Read said, “Mr Sanele and Mr Treadwell’s behaviour diminished the hard work of their honest colleagues and could have damaged Thermakraft’s business. Regardless of the scope or size, the SFO is committed to prosecuting individuals who misuse their positions corruptly for financial benefit because, ultimately, the entire country’s business reputation is at risk.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media