Council workers charged in $840k corruption case

Adam Feeley. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Serious Fraud Office has announced that two North Shore City Council workers have been charged in a $840,000 corruption case.

Hemant Kumar Maharaj, 57, and Suresh Din, 56, both of Auckland, have had more than 300 charges laid against them, with the SFO saying they used 151 invoices in a dishonest scheme to obtain over $840,000 from the Council.

Maharaj and Din are jointly charged with 73 counts of using a document with intent to defraud and 78 counts of dishonestly using a document over a period of approximately 10 years.

Maharaj has also been charged with two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the alleged alteration and provision of a diary and the alleged creation of a receipt book.

Din has also been charged with one count of using a document with intent to defraud and six counts of dishonestly using a document in relation to the alleged dishonest use of income tax returns that claimed expenditure he had not incurred.

Both men were remanded on bail, without plea, to reappear on 13 December 2010.

SFO chief executive Adam Feeley said investigating and prosecuting corrupt officials within the public sector who have abused their position of trust over public funds was an area of fraud investigation that the SFO had identified as priority for the Office in its current business plan.

"While New Zealand enjoys an outstanding international reputation for being relatively corruption free, that reputation can only be maintained by good fraud prevention and a swift response to any allegations which could undermine confidence in the integrity of our public sector."

Doug McKay, chief executive of the new Auckland Council which encompasses the old North Shore council, said a firm stand was being taken against alleged theft and fraud.

"We have in place a comprehensive fraud prevention, detection and investigation programme and have stringent controls around procurement, purchasing and payment for goods and services," he said.

"Over the last three weeks since the formation of the new Auckland Council, we have supported and co-operated fully with the SFO's investigation."

The council would seek full restitution, he said.

- HERALD ONLINE / NZPA