NAB fraud accused Helen Rosamond loses trial date adjourn bid

Helen Rosamond, accused of defrauding NAB out of $26.7m, has lost a bid to adjourn the setting of a trial date for three weeks.

Helen Mary Rosamond leaves a Sydney court. Picture: Adam Yip

A former high-flying Sydney businesswoman accused of defrauding NAB out of $26.7 million has had her attempt to adjourn the setting down of a trial date for three weeks shot down by a NSW district court judge.

Helen Mary Rosamond, who also previously pleaded not guilty to the 74 fraud and corruption charges, is accused of conspiring with former NAB boss Andrew Thorburn’s chief of staff Rosemary Rogers to approve inflated contracts for events business, the Human Group, of which she was a director.

It is alleged that the 44-year-old paid Rogers dozens of secret commissions between 2013 and 2017 in return for securing the Human Group $40 million of contract approvals.

Alleged commissions included a $487,000 holiday in the US for eight people, a $380,000 house deposit, money for house renovations, and $187,000 European jaunt for Rogers’ family and friends, as well as holidays in Australia, a BMW x5 and a Chaparral boat.

Appearing by videolink in the NSW District Court on Friday, Ms Rosamond’s barrister Matthew Breeze attempted to have her arraignment adjourned for three weeks, noting the sheer amount of case documents and citing a need to find appropriate senior counsel for a trial.

“We’re not in a position to get a trial date today,” Mr Breeze said, adding that the trial will take between four to six months with a three to four-week pre-trial period.

“You’re honour, we are making some inquiries in respect to senior counsel, and we are awaiting to hear back from them in respect to their availability for trial next year.”

The Crown Prosecutor objected to the motion, noting that the arraignment had been adjourned on three separate occasions, two of which were initiated by defence, most recently for a period of one month with the same objective of finding counsel.

The prosecution also said that in the Crown’s estimation, the trial will only take about three months.

Judge Dina Yehia sided with the prosecution, adjourning the case for one week only.

“The matter will be adjourned until next Friday but on that date, the matter will be set down for trial,” she said.

“There will be no further adjournments in this matter.”

The adjournment comes after Ms Rosamond on Tuesday attempted to wind back “unnecessary” bail conditions requiring her to visit King Cross Police station three times a week, asserting that she did not pose a flight risk.

The application was withdrawn after Judge Michael Adams proposed modifying her triweekly reporting schedule to one day in person and the other two days over the phone, with an added condition allowing the police to call her twice per day and ask her location.

Ms Rosamond also faces civil action brought by NAB in the Supreme Court relating to her alleged actions. She will return to court on July 31.

In February alleged co-conspirator Rogers pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining financial benefit by deception and is now awaiting sentencing on bail.