A former contract manager at Broadspectrum has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and corruption in the Auckland District Court today in a case brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
The SFO said Jason Koroheke was the primary offender in several schemes where he accepted gifts in exchange for awarding work and submitted false invoices to obtain significant benefits for himself.
Koroheke was the fifth person involved in the case to plead guilty, with the SFO charging three other subcontractors in relation to the schemes, including Frederick Pou, Richard Motilal and another person who still has name suppression.
The fifth person was former Broadspectrum maintenance manager Aurelian Mihai Hossu (also known as Michael Hossu).
The subcontractors submitted invoices – both real and fake – to Broadspectrum which Koroheke then authorised. Once the subcontractors were paid, they used this money to provide gifts for Koroheke in the form of cash, goods or services worth over $1 million.
SFO Director Karen Chang said: “The final guilty plea marks an important milestone in this case with a trial now no longer being required. It also highlights the quality of our highly specialised investigation and prosecution team who delivered this outcome.”
“This case serves as a reminder that the SFO is committed to maintaining New Zealand’s reputation for transparency, integrity, and low levels of fraud and corruption, particularly where there are links to public sector funding. Pursuing serious and complex cases of this nature is important in deterring future offending and safeguarding that reputation.”
Koroheke’s sentencing has been scheduled for November 29.