Transport Ministry manager charged over $726,000 fraud
Monday 08 August 2016 05:28 PM
Transport Ministry manager wanted over $726,000 fraud, arrested at airport, charged
By Edwin Mitson
Aug. 8 (BusinessDesk) - A former senior manager at the Ministry of Transport has appeared in the Manukau District Court charged with three counts of dishonestly taking or using a document in relation to a $726,000 fraud.
Fifty-year-old Joanne Harrison is a former general manager at the ministry. The Serious Fraud Office was called in after an internal investigation into suspicious payments. In a statement, the SFO said entities associated with Harrison received $726,000.
She was arrested at Auckland International Airport on Friday before appearing in court on the same day.
No plea was entered. She's due to appear again on Aug. 16.
Details of the case came to light last month, which the ministry's new chief executive Peter Mersi described as a betrayal: "This was a senior staff member in a position of high trust, and my staff feel incredibly let down and betrayed by her actions."
(BusinessDesk)