Judge's Comments Suggest Bribery More Widespread

22 FEBRUARY 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reacting to the sentencing of Stephen Borlase and Murray Noone for bribery, Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union says:

“Justice Fitzgerald’s has made very clear that illegal gift-giving and backhanders were much wider at Auckland Transport than just these two individuals. She notes this a number of times in the decision. While we welcome these prison sentences – which reflect the seriousness of the offending – authorities still have more work to do to weed out this sort behavior and ensure organisations like Auckland Transport are corruption free.

"The decision calls into question the whole 'collaborative approach' model of procurement applied by Auckland Transport. What we find most concerning is that despite questions to Auckland Transport by our collegues at the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance, nothing appears to have changed. Apparently no lessons have been learned."

ENDS

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