New Zealand / Auckland Region

Transport Ministry manager pleads guilty to $700k fraud

16:31 pm on 9 November 2016

A former Transport Ministry manager has admitted a fraud in which she stole about $726,000.

Joanne Harrison pleaded guilty at the Manukau District Court today. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Joanne Harrison pleaded guilty in the Manukau District Court today to three charges of dishonestly taking or using a document.

The former general manager of organisational development was caught after an internal investigation found suspicious payments had been made.

Serious Fraud Office director Julie Read said Harrison had betrayed her colleagues.

She said the ministry was now taking steps to minimise the risk of fraud, and she hoped other organisations would do the same.