The owner of a company at the centre of an alleged bribery scandal involving National Australia Bank has been arrested and charged with more than 50 corruption offences.
New South Wales police began their probe in April this year following allegations by a whistleblower of corrupt invoice payments of up to $40 million made to executive events firm Human Group, a long-term supplier to the bank, that were approved by Rosemary Rogers, former chief of staff to NAB CEO Thorburn.
Following a year-long investigation, NSW crime chiefs yesterday confirmed the arrest of a 43-yer old woman, understood to be Helen Rosamond, the owner and director of Human Group.
Police will allege in court that the woman covered personal expenses for others, including extravagant holidays and prepaid credit cards, with a total value of more than $6.6 million, to maintain a professional contract with the bank between 2013 and 2017.
Rogers resigned from the bank in December last year and has yet to face criminal action.
In a statement, NAB says: “If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee.
“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."