NAB fraud suspect Helen Rosamond faces trial over $26m

Sydney woman Helen Rosamond has pleaded not guilty to allegations she defrauded NAB of millions of dollars.

Former National Australia Bank contractor Helen Mary Rosamond. Picture: AAP

Andrew Thorburn’s former chief of staff Rosemary Rogers could be called as a witness against her alleged accomplice, Helen Rosamond, as the former National Australia Bank contractor pleaded not guilty to allegations she defrauded the lender of millions of dollars.

Appearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court Thursday, Ms Rosamond pleaded not guilty to fraud and corruption offences worth an alleged total value of $26.7m. She is scheduled to face trial on April 17.

Ms Rosamond, former director of Human Group, was allegedly behind a scheme that paid Rogers dozens of secret commissions between 2013 and 2017. As the chief of staff to Mr Thorburn, and his predecessor Cameron Clyne, Rogers, who last month pleaded guilty to a string of charges, used her senior position to approve inflated invoices submitted to NAB for services provided by Ms Rosamond’s events and human resources company.

Alleged commissions included an extravagant $487,000 holiday in the US for eight people, a $380,000 house deposit and $187,000 European jaunt for Rogers’ family and friends.

Emails between Ms Rosamond and Rogers allegedly show Ms Rosamond arranging to pay Mrs Rogers the alleged commission — $5000 worth of euros per day for three days. “Can you send through card number please and password if you have one so I can add funds,” Ms Rosamond wrote, according to court documents.

Ms Rosamond’s time in court on Thursday was brief. She entered the court quietly, wearing a flowing white skirt and navy jacket, she took a seat at the back of the courtroom.

Ms Rosamond pleaded not guilty to more than 50 bribery and corruption related offences, with the exception of one charge which was withdrawn. No further evidence was put forward by prosecutor Burton Ko.

The Rosamond matter had initially been adjourned for a fortnight after the Department of Public Prosecutions gave her legal team three compact discs on the eve of her mention. Mr Breeze advised that the disks contained 1000 telephone calls and text messages.

Police allege that the compensation scheme enabled the former NAB chief of staff to live a life of luxury. Trips to the Emirates resort in Wolgan Valley in NSW — costing up to $75,000 — became a regular occurrence, as did holidays to Fiji and business class flights across Australia.

In addition, Rogers received a $172,000 BMW X5 and a $115,000 Chaparral boat. The yearly $7500 marina fees were also allegedly paid by Ms Rosamond.

On March 21, Rogers will face sentencing, after she pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining financial benefit by-deception on over $14.3m worth of invoices.

NAB is pursuing an unspecified sum to be returned to shareholders, after Ms Rosamond defrauded millions while organising team-building exercises for the bank. This included a Bedouin experience in the desert near Dubai and a luxury holiday to the Laucala Resort in Fiji for former NAB chief executive Mr Thorburn. Basic rooms at the resort start at $6000 a night.

Mr Thorburn isn’t accused of any wrongdoing. NAB alleges that Ms Rosamond and Rogers disguised a $2.2m payment by claiming it related to the hiring of former NSW premier Mike Baird. Ms Rosamond’s bail conditions will continue.