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Scoop
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
SFO Leads AntiCorruption Taskforce Pilot To Strengthen Public Sector Resilience
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), supported by the NewZealand Police and the Public Service Commission, today announced a joint AntiCorruption Taskforce and pilot programme to build a clearer, systemwide picture of the corruption and fraud risks across the public service. The Taskforce will be led by the SFO and draw on specialist counter fraud and enforcement expertise to assess the extent of the corruption and fraud risk. The Taskforce will work with a representative group of six public service agencies, Inland Revenue, Accident Compensation Corporation, the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Social Development, Land Information New Zealand, and Sport New Zealand, to complete an indepth selfassessment of their fraud and corruption control maturity. The six agencies will also report on the volume of corruption and fraud detected and prevented. SFO Chief Executive Karen Chang says, 'Tackling publicsector fraud and corruption is about safeguarding taxpayer funds and protecting New Zealanders' trust in government. By bringing frontline agencies and enforcement partners together, this will help build a clearer intelligence picture that can be used to lift system resilience and ensure we stay ahead of emerging threats such as insider threats, foreign interference and AIenabled fraud.' 'Many of the organisations in this pilot are already proactive members of our Counter Fraud Centre community. Their willingness to lift the hood and share data shows a strong tonefromthetop commitment to integrity. Together we'll create a baseline that informs more targeted prevention, better detection and, ultimately, stronger enforcement.' Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Rochesays, 'New Zealand's reputation for integrity in government is hard-earned and must be protected. This taskforce will further strengthen our ability to detect and prevent fraud and corruption wherever and whenever it happens in the public sector.' NewZealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, says 'Corruption and serious fraud threaten the trust and integrity that underpin our society. By working together with agencies across government, this Taskforce will help us identify risks early and apply our collective enforcement expertise to keep the system strong and accountable.' The SFO acknowledges the leadership of Police Minister HonMark Mitchell and Public Service Minister HonJudith Collins in championing the Taskforce, and thanks the chief executives of the six pilot agencies for their partnership. More information The pilot will run for six months and consist of two phases Phase one has already begun (July-September) and involves the Taskforce working with the six agencies to gather data and test the assessment and reporting processes Phase two (October-December), will involve the Taskforce reviewing the data and preparing a public report and advice to Ministers on next steps Anti-CorruptionTaskforce Pilot explained. About the SFO The SFO is responsible for investigating and prosecuting serious or complex fraud, including bribery, and corruption in New Zealand. With a focus on maintaining integrity and trust in the financial system, the SFO has developed strategic areas of focus to ensure it has the greatest impact with the cases it takes in. SFO Strategic Areas of Focus
NZ Herald
18-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Anti‑corruption taskforce launched, but what will it actually do?
SFO chief executive Karen Chang said the new taskforce would build intelligence to combat 'insider threats, foreign interference and AI‑enabled fraud'. The taskforce unveiling comes after experts warned the Government about compromised police officers, immigration officials, and private sector employees in ports and airports. Cabinet minister Casey Costello established an expert group in February to advise how government agencies could work better to combat organised crime. The group's first report said New Zealand was 'losing the fight' against organised crime and it urged the Government to take bold steps. The second report, released in May, focused on stopping money flows to organised crime groups here and overseas. The panel called for the banning of cryptocurrency ATMs and cash wages in 'high-risk' industries. The Government announced last week that cryptocurrency ATMs would be banned. The SFO said today that it would work with six agencies on the taskforce. They are Inland Revenue, ACC, Corrections, the Ministry of Social Development, Land Information New Zealand and Sport New Zealand. The SFO would assess the 'fraud and corruption control maturity' of those agencies. The agencies will report on corruption and fraud volumes detected and prevented. In the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, New Zealand ranked first-equal with Denmark and Finland. By this year, it had slipped to fourth place, behind Denmark, Finland and Singapore. The SFO said it would lead the new taskforce and use specialist counter-fraud and enforcement expertise. 'Many of the organisations in this pilot are already proactive members of our Counter-Fraud Centre community,' Chang said. That centre was established to support agencies in building counter-fraud capabilities. Chang said the taskforce would foster more targeted prevention, better detection and stronger enforcement. The pilot will run for six months. In the first phase, from July to September, the taskforce will work with the six agencies to gather data and test 'assessment and reporting' processes. In the second phase, from October to December, it will review the data and prepare a public report and advice to ministers on next steps. 'The taskforce's work will build a clearer intelligence picture of the threats that face our public sector,' Mitchell said. 'This is about taking proactive action to ensure our prevention and response system remains resilient and fit for purpose. 'Every dollar of public funding counts, and preventing the unlawful taking of taxpayer money is something we take very seriously.' Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said the taskforce should help law enforcement to identify risks early. Public Service Minister Judith Collins said the Government intended to maintain New Zealand's reputation as one of the world's least corrupt countries. 'By increasing transparency, identifying risks and encouraging ethical conduct across the public sector, this taskforce will help maintain trust in our institutions.' Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said the taskforce should bolster New Zealand's ability to detect and prevent fraud and corruption in the public sector. John Weekes is a business journalist mostly covering aviation and courts. He has previously covered consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts. - Additional reporting by Jared Savage.
RNZ News
18-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
SFO launches pilot programme to tackle public sector corruption risks
File image. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King A newly launched Anti-Corruption Taskforce pilot programme, led by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), will be running for the next six months to assess risks across the public sector - including AI-enabled fraud, foreign interference and insider threats. The SFO will be supported by the Police and the Public Service Commission to build a "system-wide" picture of the corruption and fraud risks in the public sector. Between July and September, the taskforce will request six agencies to complete self-assessments and supply data: Inland Revenue, Accident Compensation Corporation, the Department of Corrections, the Ministry of Social Development, Land Information New Zealand and Sport New Zealand. The agencies will also report on the volume of corruption and fraud detected and prevented. By the end of the year, the taskforce will prepare advice to ministers and release a public report about the trends, gaps and recommended actions. SFO chief executive Karen Chang said in a statement tackling public sector fraud was about safeguarding taxpayers' funds and protecting New Zealanders' trust in government. "By bringing frontline agencies and enforcement partners together, this will help build a clearer intelligence picture that can be used to lift system resilience and ensure we stay ahead of emerging threats such as insider threats, foreign interference and AI-enabled fraud." Chang said the pilot would generate a baseline that informed more targeted prevention, better detection and stronger enforcement. She said the agencies were already proactive members of the existing Counter Fraud Centre community, and their willingness to share data showed a strong commitment to integrity. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said working with agencies across government would allow the taskforce to identify risks early and use the collective enforcement to keep the system strong. Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the public sector accounted for a third of the economy, and the pilot was a "critical step" in protecting and enhancing New Zealand's reputation as an attractive place to invest. "Every dollar of public funding counts, and preventing the unlawful taking of taxpayer money is something we take very seriously," he said. Public Service Minister Judith Collins said the taskforce would help increase transparency and encourage ethical conduct across the public sector. "Fighting corruption is not just about prosecution - it's about leadership, accountability and promoting a culture of integrity." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Businessman Hun Min Im used $1.8 million Covid-19 wage subsidy for personal luxury purchases
He managed to secure $602,202 of a total $1,879,288 from the wage subsidy payments. The charges filed against the defendant were brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the first wage subsidy fraud case of its type for the agency. Serious Fraud Office director Karen Chang today described Im's offending as 'deliberate and wide-reaching'. 'He created a complex web of fake companies and forged documents which our expert teams spent many hours piecing together. 'He stole the personal information of his tenants and applicants who responded to fake job ads he placed online, to use as shareholders, directors and employees in his companies. 'Mr Im took advantage of public money that was intended to support people and businesses during a time of significant stress and uncertainty. Any money he received was used to fund his personal lifestyle, including an apartment and luxury vehicle.' Judge Simon Lance acknowledged the 'enormous amount of work' carried out by the prosecution team, involving 'hours and hours' of information gathering for the trial. The summary of facts detailing Im's offending stretched to 83 pages long. Companies not operating in NZ, forged names According to the agreed summary of facts provided to the Herald, Im filed 42 applications to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in an attempt to obtain taxpayer-funded Covid-19 wage subsidy payments. Of the total, 13 of the applications were approved by MSD and 29 were declined. In reality, the companies listed on the 42 applications were not operating any business in New Zealand and were not employing the individuals listed in the applications, or any staff. The money Im obtained from MSD was used to fund his lifestyle. He filed further applications for Covid-19 subsidies with Inland Revenue (IR) seeking an additional $172,800 of funds that he was not entitled to for his companies. None of these applications were successful but Im still faced multiple charges for dishonestly using a document. To incorporate companies with the New Zealand Companies Office, Im forged signatures on director and shareholder consent forms. Two people involved with a company called Imperial had never heard of its nameand were not aware that they were registered as the director or shareholder. Im also filed GST refunds totalling $271,664 from Inland Revenue (IR) for his companies, falsely stating the companies' sales and income, purchases and expenses. In some instances, GST returns were filed for shell companies. During the period of his offending, Im also received the Jobseeker Benefit as well as an Emergency Grant of $16,146 in relation to housing assistance. Additionally, he received $50,074 from the Inland Revenue Department in Working for Families and GST-related payments. Emotional day in court Prosecutor Todd Simmonds said Im's offending was of a 'very calculated, premeditated nature' spanning a significant period of time. In this case imprisonment was the only 'realistic outcome' and 'extremely likely', he said. In court on Friday, Im stood up and begged the judge to be allowed further bail time to be with his heavily-pregnant wife who faces deportation. Defence lawyer Jeremy Bioletti said Im's wife's visa had expired, she was six months pregnant, and looking after a 3 and 5-year-old. The situation left her 'completely dependent on Mr Im's position,' he said. Im pleaded with the judge asking for, 'just a little more time to organise everything for my wife and children' as he said they had no family in Korea. Judge Lance said due to the likelihood of his wife being repatriated, there was going to be some disruption to the family dynamic 'one way or the other'. 'I take no pleasure in this to be honest, but according to law and given the circumstances, a remand in custody is appropriate.' He said Im's lengthy time on bail during the trial meant he had been given time to arrange his personal affairs. Im is due to be sentenced in August.
Reuters
30-01-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Northvolt's North American division CEO to step down
Jan 30 (Reuters) - Northvolt's co-founder Paolo Cerruti will step down from his role as chief executive officer of its North American division, the Swedish electric-vehicle battery maker said on Thursday. Karen Chang — who has played a key role in the company's Canada-based battery gigafactory, Six project — will serve as interim CEO in the transition period. Cerruti will retain his role as chairman of the board of the Canadian entity, the statement said, adding that "Paolo will continue to support the growth and success of Northvolt North America from a strategic perspective." He will remain involved in the ongoing development of Northvolt Six, the company said.
