The former chief of staff to the embattled ex-boss of National Australia Bank has been arrested for alleged corruption.
Rosemary Rogers, who resigned after nine years at NAB in December, is accused of accepting $6.6million in bribes from events company The Human Group.
In return, Rogers would allegedly agree to sign off the company’s inflated expenses claims to NAB, forcing the bank to pay more money than was actually owed.
NAB was allegedly defrauded of $40million over four years.
Rosemary Rogers (pictured), who resigned after nine years at NAB in December, is accused of defrauding the bank of $500,000 to fund a lavish family holiday overseas
Rogers, who has $7.5million worth of assets, flew from her home in Melbourne on Tuesday to voluntarily attend an interview at the AFP headquarters in Sydney.
Police confirmed that a 43-year-old woman has been arrested and will be charged later today.
It comes after Human Group director Helen Rosamond was arrested at her home in Potts Point, Sydney on Friday and charged with 56 counts of bribery for her alleged involvement in the same corruption scandal.
The relationship between Human Group and NAB dates back 12 years with contracts worth $118 million.
Rosamond allegedly forked out more than $6.6 million in bribes to maintain a relationship between her training company and NAB.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith on Friday said the ‘corporate corruption’ involved ‘senior executives’.
He said at the time he wouldn’t rule out further charges being laid.
The total amount involved in the alleged fraud is some $40 million. The criminal behaviour occurred between 2013 and 2017, Mr Smith said.
The Human Group director Helen Rosamond (pictured) was arrested at her home in Potts Point, Sydney on Friday and charged with 56 counts of bribery.
In November, Rogers had her assets frozen by police investigating her.
The assets reportedly include a $6.2million property portfolio, two speed boats, a Range Rover and a cheque for $1million.
The freezing order was imposed by the NSW and Victoria supreme courts on November 30, court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia show.
Mrs Rogers, who lives with her husband Anthony, built up her property portfolio between 2013 and 2017, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The portfolio includes a sprawling rural house in Bellbrae, Victoria which she bought for $1million in 2013.
She also owns a four-bedroom family home in Williamstown, Victoria and a two-luxury apartment worth $700,000 in the same city, according to the publication.
The fourth property that has been frozen is reportedly a flat in the Melbourne suburb of Cremorne, near NAB’s offices.
Other assets frozen reportedly include a 2016 Range Rover, a 2016 Chaparral Sunesta motorboat and an Anglapro Sniper motorboat.
The Williamstown home was raided in 2018 as part of an ongoing police investigation which has not brought any arrests or charges.
The banker’s frozen empire: NAB chief of staff’s $7.5million assets
Four-bedroom family home at 40 Power Street in Williamstown, Victoria, bought for $3,800,000 on January 10, 2018
Sprawling property at 7 Cunningham Drive, Bellrae, bought for $995,000 on December 6, 2013
Two-bedroom luxury flat at 47 Nelson Place, Williamstown bought for $701,300 on June 19, 2017
Large flat at 140 Swann Street, Cremorne in Melbourne bought for $735,000 on May 19, 2015
2016 Range Rover with an estimated price of $150,000 (stock image; not actual)
2016 Chaparral 224 Sunesta motorboat with estimated price of $75,000 (stock image; not actual)
2017 Anglapro Sniper motorboat with estimated price of $35,000 (stock image; not actual)
2015 Mackay Boat Trailer with estimated price of $5,000
Cheque for $1million
Total: $7,496,300
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
An NAB spokesman said a whistleblower had first reported Roger’s alleged fraud.
‘NAB responded and acted immediately on CEO Andrew Thorburn’s direction, investigated matters and reported them to police,’ he said.
‘If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee.
‘We continue to cooperate fully with police, who have asked us to provide no further comment on the alleged fraud and the investigation.’
The matter is next listed for directions in court on 18 March.
NAB was singled out in the banking royal commission’s report release last month.
The fourth property that has been frozen is reportedly a flat (pictured) in the Melbourne suburb of Cremorne, near NAB’s offices
The Williamstown home (pictured) was raided in 2018 as part of an ongoing police investigation which has not brought any charges
The portfolio includes a sprawling rural house (pictured) in Bellbrae, Victoria which she bought for $1million in 2013
Commissioner Kenneth Hayne’s report revealed greed and misconduct in the Australian financial sector at the expense of consumers and businesses.
‘NAB also stands apart from the other three major banks,’ Mr Hayne wrote.
‘Having heard from both the CEO, Mr [Andrew] Thorburn, and the chair, Dr [Ken] Henry, I am not as confident as I would wish to be that the lessons of the past have been learned.’
There is no suggestion Mr Thorburn or Dr Henry did anything wrong or were aware of the alleged fraud.
Andrew Thorburn, former chief executive officer of National Australia Bank. There is no suggestion Mr Thorburn did anything wrong or was aware of the alleged fraud