NAB fraudster gets 15 years for ‘breathtaking’ scheme
National Australian Bank fraudster Helen Rosamond has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for a scheme “breathtaking in its audacity” that embezzled millions of dollars with the help of a former chief of staff to two bank bosses.
Judge Robert Sutherland on Thursday delivered the aggregate jail sentence and imposed a minimum non-parole period of eight years. With time served in custody, Rosamond will be eligible for parole on December 1, 2030.
Last November, a jury found Rosamond guilty of 90 of 92 fraud charges laid against her.
Helen Rosamond at the Downing Centre in Sydney in December. Nick Moir
She defrauded NAB by sending falsified and inflated invoices from her event management company, Human Group, to her friend Rosemary Rogers, who was chief of staff to ex-NAB chief executives Cameron Clyne and Andrew Thorburn, Rogers. Rogers would then approve the invoices without questioning them.
Rogers, a long-time bank employee who the court heard had worked with multiple chief executives, was authorised to approve payments of up to $20 million. Rogers pleaded guilty in 2019 to charges of being an agent corruptly receiving a benefit.
The charges arose from invoices issued to NAB by Human Group between 2013 and 2017 to the tune of about $15 million. The pair were able to hide the fraud because Human Group did legitimate work for NAB, including organising executive offsite and retreats. The fraud was only discovered in late 2017 when a whistleblower alerted the company.
Rosamond spent millions on gifts for Rogers, including a house, holidays, a caravan and prestige car, to ensure the invoices were paid. Rosamond also gave herself extravagant benefits from stolen NAB funds, including the purchase of art, holidays, her own
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