11 Mar 2009

DHB fraudsters to be sentenced

5:21 am on 11 March 2009

Two men responsible for fraud totalling almost $17 million at the Otago District Health Board will be sentenced at the High Court in Dunedin on Wednesday.

Former DHB IT manager Mike Swann and Queenstown surveyor Kerry Harford filed 198 false invoices to the board between 2000 - 2006, swindling $16.9 million in public money.

It's believed to be the largest employee fraud in New Zealand history.

Harford kept 10% of the money and forwarded the remaining 90% to Swann, who spent it on luxury cars, boats and property.

The pair have been in custody since they were convicted of three joint charges of fraud late last year.