Alleged fraudster reports for bail over $40m NAB bribe scandal
A high-flying businesswoman who allegedly bribed an employee at one of Australia’s biggest banks with multimillion-dollar kickbacks arrived on foot to a Sydney police station today after spending the weekend in jail.
- Former chief of staff to ex-NAB boss granted bail over alleged $40m fraud surrounding the bank
- Human Group raided over alleged NAB scheme
A high-flying businesswoman who allegedly bribed an employee at one of Australia’s biggest banks with multimillion-dollar kickbacks arrived on foot to a Sydney police station today after spending the weekend in jail.
Human Group chief Helen Rosamond is allegedly at the centre of a $40 million corporate fraud against National Australia Bank, showering an executive staffer with lavish overseas family holidays, boats and helicopter rides in return for lucrative contracts and bloated invoices.
The 43-year-old is accused of paying more than $6.6 million in extravagant bribes to Rosemary Rogers, the chief of staff of former NAB boss Andrew Thorburn, between 2013 and 2017.
Stepping out from her Potts Point home that cops raided last week, the human resources company director walked in heels to Kings Cross police station today, as she must do daily as part of her $200,000 bail conditions.
Rosamond’s now unemployed co-accused Rogers was bailed on Tuesday after the mother flew from her $3.8 million Melbourne home and handed herself over to police.
Court documents reveal Human Group allegedly paid a $380,000 deposit on the palatial Williamstown house in September 2017 — two weeks before Rogers is accused of authorising a false invoice to the bank for $2.2 million
Police told the court the 43-year-old was motivated by greed when she swindled nearly half a billion dollars for a one-month trip to the US for eight people, hired a private island in Fiji and used a constant stream of bank cheques and prepaid credit cards to fund a “very luxurious life”.
This included private helicopter transfers to the exclusive Emirates resort at Wolgan Valley, private jets around the globe with her relatives, a BMW X5 worth more than $172,000 and a $46,000 boat.
Rosamond allegedly gave Rogers nearly $600,000 for renovations at her Bellbrae property and paid for accommodation in nearby Torquay.
Rogers went on luxury cruises, threw exorbitant parties, was put up at the Crown Towers in Melbourne and dined at the ritzy Dinner by Blumenthal numerous times.
But on Tuesday Rogers was bailed without a surety after her lawyer argued most of her assets had been frozen by the NSW Crime Commission as part of its investigation.
The pair are facing more than 100 bribery and fraud charges stemming from the alleged scam during the latter years of Rogers’ two decades at the scandalous big four bank.
Rogers also worked for Mr Thorburn’s predecessor Cameron Clyne while the relationship between NAB and the Sydney-based events and HR firm dates back 12 years with contracts worth $118 million.
Magistrate Robert Williams said the case against Rogers was strong and she would likely be jailed if found guilty.
But he said Rogers had no criminal record, has co-operated with cops to date and there was little evidence she’d try to flee.
As part of their bail conditions, both women must obey a nightly curfew and are banned from contacting each other.
Rogers must also report daily to local police and not use encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp.
She’s also banned from approaching airports except to fly from her Williamstown home to Sydney for court.
Rogers left the bank in December 2017 after being confronted with evidence she allegedly signed off on inflated payments to a contractor.
She had worked closely with Mr Thorburn and knew his family. There is no suggestion that Mr Thorburn was aware of the alleged fraud.
NAB on Friday said it is “the victim” of an alleged fraud first reported by a whistleblower, which the lender immediately investigated and reported to police.
“If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“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.”
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