Woman arrested over alleged role in $40m fraud

A Sydney woman has been charged with more than 50 fraud and bribery offences after a corporate corruption investigation revealed a $40 million dollar racket between National Australia Bank and a training agency.

A high-flying businesswoman allegedly at the centre of an alleged $40 million corporate fraud against the National Australia Bank faces 56 bribery charges after she was arrested in an early morning raid on a Potts Point townhouse yesterday.

Human resources company Human Group chief Helen Rosamond was also charged with one count of ­obtaining benefit by deception and one count of attempting fraud. The 43-year-old is accused of paying more than $6.6 million in bribes to a NAB executive.

A Sydney woman has been charged with more than 50 fraud and bribery offences

The charges relate to transactions involving $40m between 2013 and 2017, police said.

According to court documents she allegedly bribed a bank employee with expensive overseas holidays and five star restaurant meals in return for inflated invoices paid to her company. The relationship between Human Group and NAB dates back 12 years, with contracts worth $118 million.

In court, prosecutors argued Rosamond “constantly” tried to conceal her “highly sophisticated” offending which only came to light because of a whistleblower.

Rosemary Rogers, chief of staff to former NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn, was named as a co-accused in the case.

Police arrested Helen Rosamond at her Potts Point home this morning

The court was told a mobile phone was seized by police yesterday morning showing Rosamond speaking to her co-accused on WhatsApp.

The NSW Financial Crimes Squad began to investigate the Human Group and its activities in February last year.

NAB said in a statement that there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing by anyone at the bank, including former CEO Andrew Thorburn, adding it was “the victim” in this matter.

“If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee,” the bank said.

Human Group director Helen Rosamond was arrested today.

Helen Rosamond was taken to the Kings Cross police station for questioning.

Rosamond was granted bail with strict conditions including forfeiting $200,000. Prosecutors had opposed Rosamond’s release, telling the court her offending was motivated by “greed” and to “facilitate a lifestyle” involving holidays, boats and houses “all at the expense of the company”.

However, Rosamond’s defence lawyer Evan James argued the case would likely not proceed to trial for at least 18 months, saying she was the full-time carer of her young children. In granting bail, Magistrate Robert Williams said there was a “strong prosecution case” against Rosamond and “that if convicted for these offences a custodial sentence, that is a full time custodial sentence, is likely”.

Rogers is due to face the NSW Supreme Court on March 18. Rosamond will return to court on March 19.