Fake Tahitian Prince who defrauded the Government out of $16million and falsely claimed to be a lawyer is deported to New Zealand where he will live with his MUM
- Kiwi-born Joel Morehu-Barlow defrauded his employer Queensland Health
- He claimed he was a fake Tahitian prince and managed to steal $16million
- In 2013 he was sentenced to 14 years in jail and his parole was rejected twice
- His third parole attempt was granted and he was deported to New Zealand
Morehu-Barlow would tell friends and colleagues he was a Polynesian prince
A fake Tahitian prince who siphoned $16million from the state government has been deported after his release from prison.
Joel Morehu-Barlow, now 44, spent five years behind bars after he pleaded guilty in 2013 to stealing money from his employer, Queensland Health, over a four year period.
At the time, he was working as a finance officer after climbing the ranks with a fake law degree.
He was sentenced to 14 years behind bars with a non-parole period of five years.
The New Zealander was granted parole in November and released on Thursday. He was immediately deported back to his homeland, where he is expected to live with his mother in Auckland.
Television footage aired on Friday showing Morehu-Barlow flanked by Australian Border Force officers as he was escorted to an airport where he was put on a Qantas plane bound for Auckland shortly after his release in Thursday.
While employed as a middle manager at Queensland Health, he used his position to siphon off funds between October 2007 and December 2011.
He was able to keep a lavish lifestyle by using the money he siphoned out of Queensland Health
The extra cash afforded him a lavish lifestyle that included the purchase of an exclusive waterfront apartment in inner Brisbane.
He had the initials HRH (His Royal Highness) on a black American Express credit card which he used at Brisbane nightclub Cloudland, where he drank top of the range champagne and tipped waiters $1000, according to former staff members.
His cash-splashing habits were so outlandish that one Fortitude Valley businessman described it as an economic stimulus package for Brisbane’s restaurants, pubs and retailers.
His was was brought undone in December 2011 when he attempted to redirect $11 million in a single transaction. He’d previously taken about $5 million in total.
Morehu-Barlow was flanked by Australian Border Force officers as he was escorted to a Qantas plane bound for Auckland shortly after his release in Thursday
He was spotted picking up his belongings, which were all contained in a single plastic bag
When police searched his residence, they found hundreds of luxury items including a life-size horse lamp, saddle, a Chanel watch and a Louis Vuitton surfboard, which were seized and later sold at auction.
Overall about $11.9 million was recovered from the sale of items, including the apartment.
Before his arrest, Morehu-Barlow would tell friends and colleagues he was a Polynesian prince
During one of his court proceedings, Morehu-Barlow’s lawyer told the court that even his client knew his ‘simple’ fraud – which just happened to involve an extraordinary amount of money – would be exposed.
‘It was a simple fraud which was bound to be discovered,’ defence barrister David Shepherd said.
Morehu-Barlow’s first request for parole in February 2017 was denied while a second request in November 2017 was deferred before it was again denied.
Kiwi-born Joel Morehu-Barlow (pictured) defrauded his employer Queensland Health in a four year span where he roped in $16million