First charges in NAB bribery case
On Friday 1 March 2019, NSW police detectives arrested and charged a Sydney woman with more than 50 counts of bribery as part of an ongoing investigation into a multi-million dollar fraud against National Australia Bank.The investigation was triggered by a NAB whistleblower's action last year.The identity of that person was confirmed later that day as Helen Rosamond, the owner and director of Human Group, an events and human resources company which has been providing services to NAB for more than a decade. After being arrested at her Potts Point home, Rosamund was taken to Kings Cross Police Station and charged with 56 counts of corruptly give agent benefit, and one count each of obtain benefit by deception and attempt fraud, NSW Police stated.The charges against her have been a long time in preparation. In February 2018, Strike Force Napthali was established by detectives in the NSW State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad to investigate "allegations of corrupt commissions being paid for contracts with a financial institution valued at more than $40 million over a five-year period," according to a statement from NSW Police.As part of their investigations, detectives have executed more than 20 search warrants in NSW and Victoria, where they seized large amounts of documents and electronic storage devices, which have been examined by specialist forensic accountants.Police said they will allege in court that Rosamond "covered personal expenses for others, with a total value of more than $6.6 million, to maintain a professional contract with a client between 2013 and 2017". The money was siphoned off primarily by inflating invoices for services provided to NAB executives, and payments were approved by insiders at NAB, although there is no suggestion that departed NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn was aware of the long-running series of corrupt practices.The Sydney Morning Herald reported that shortly after 4pm Rosamond appeared via audio-visual link at Central Local Court, where she was granted bail by a magistrate, subject to strict conditions that included surrendering her passport, reporting to police daily and posting a $200,000 surety.The magistrate noted that the financial gains allegedly made by Ms Rosamond were "mostly to facilitate a lifestyle" for herself and her family, with "boats, holidays," and "houses." Investigations under Strike Force Napthali are ongoing and further arrests and charges are expected.