New Zealand / Auckland Region

Council worker accused of bribe named

15:18 pm on 26 July 2019

A former Auckland Council worker accused of taking a bribe can now be named.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Sundeep Rasila faces one charge of accepting a bribe as a council official and another of obtaining by deception.

The 41-year-old, who worked as a procurement specialist, was refused name suppression in the Auckland District Court this morning.

In a statement, the Serious Fraud Office said the charges relate to the procurement of USB flash drives from China.

Another man, who has interim name suppression, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of giving a gift to a council employee.

According to Mr Rasila's Linkedin account, he worked for Auckland council between June 2012 and April 2016, responsible for a strategic supplier relationship within human resources, communications and marketing.

He then worked with the New Zealand Defence Force for more than two years in aeronautical procurement, for Hill's Laboratories for three months as a procurement manager, and for the Hamilton City Council for six months, as the lead procurement specialist.

His most recent job is with NZ Health Partnerships starting in May this year, as the procurement category manager.

Mr Rasila is yet to enter a plea and will next appear with his co-accused on 6 August.