NAB insider charged with bribery, fraud
A second woman, identified in Sydney's Central Local Court as Rosemary Rogers, has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into a multi-year, multi-million dollar fraud against National Australia Bank.Rogers had reportedly travelled to the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills from her home in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown yesterday (Tuesday, 5 March) where she was arrested and charged with 56 counts of corruptly receiving benefits and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.These charges mirror those laid on Friday against Rogers' alleged co-conspirator, Helen Rosamond, director of Human Group, which has provided training services to NAB for a decade. Rogers was chief of staff to NAB's former chief executive Andrew Thorburn - and to his predecessor, Cameron Clyne - until her resignation in December 2017.Police alleged in court that Rogers, who they have previously described as "an executive at the financial institution [NAB]", received bribes in the form of paid personal expenses, to the value of more than A$5.4 million from "a contractor" - identified as Rosamond - allegedly paid "to maintain the contract and approve overstated invoices".A NAB spokesperson said the alleged fraud was first reported by a whistleblower. The bank investigated and the police were then notified.Consequently, in February 2018, detectives from the State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad established Strike Force Napthali to investigate the allegations that corrupt commissions were being paid in relation to contracts valued at more than A$40 million over a five-year period."If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee," a NAB spokesperson said."NAB is the victim in this matter. 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."While this remains before the court it is not appropriate for us to comment further."