Key Takeaways
• Neha and Amandeep Sharma stole over NZ$2 million from New Zealand’s Ministry for Children via fraudulent invoices.
• Neha Sharma used forged job references and hid her relationship with Divine Connection Ltd’s owner, her husband.
• The Serious Fraud Office led the investigation, assets were frozen, and Neha received a three-year prison sentence.
Neha Sharma and her husband, Amandeep Sharma, both originally from India and living in Christchurch, New Zealand 🇳🇿, have admitted to carrying out one of the most striking cases of fraud against a government agency in recent years. The couple’s actions led to the theft of more than NZ$2 million from New Zealand’s Ministry for Children—also known as Oranga Tamariki—between July 2021 and October 2022. This story, as reported by VisaVerge.com, has raised deep concerns about the misuse of positions of trust within public services, and the ways such actions can harm public confidence in essential institutions.
How the $2 Million Fraud Unfolded
Gaining Access and Abusing Trust
The beginnings of this story involve Neha Sharma securing a job at Oranga Tamariki in February 2021. She got the role of Property and Facilities Manager, a position of considerable responsibility. In this job, she oversaw contracts for property maintenance across the Canterbury region. However, it soon became clear that Neha Sharma used fake job references—documents that appeared to come from previous employers but were in fact forgeries—to convince the agency she was qualified for the position.
This is where the trouble started. Although job references might seem minor, they serve as proof that a candidate has the background and good standing needed for a sensitive role. Forging these documents is not just a violation of trust; it allows unqualified individuals to move into jobs where they can do a lot of harm.
Hiding the Real Connection
Shortly after starting her job, Neha Sharma introduced her husband’s business, Divine Connection Ltd, into the list of contractors eligible to receive maintenance work from the Ministry for Children. Divine Connection Ltd was a construction firm not officially approved by the ministry for these government jobs.
What Neha Sharma did not share with her employers was that Divine Connection Ltd was run by her husband, Amandeep Sharma. She was required to openly declare any conflict of interest—this is when someone might personally and financially benefit from decisions they make at work. Hiding this relationship was a serious breach of ethics and a direct violation of workplace rules.
Approving False and Inflated Invoices
Over 15 months, Neha Sharma single-handedly approved more than 200 jobs for Divine Connection Ltd. She then authorized at least 326 invoices—most of them for amounts much higher than should have been charged. These fake or overstated bills added up to more than NZ$2.1 million. This is a huge sum, especially for a government agency that uses public money to support the welfare of children.
A large portion of the money was not even used for real maintenance work. Investigators discovered that a lot was spent on the couple’s personal expenses, including buying household electronics and other items. In some cases, payments from the ministry went straight toward their private bills.
Concealment and Internal Help
To make the fraud harder to spot, the couple kept their true relationship secret. Neha Sharma allegedly told her coworkers that Amandeep was just another contractor. She also persuaded at least one person inside the agency to help direct work opportunities to Divine Connection Ltd without raising suspicions.
The fact that colleagues did not know Neha Sharma and Amandeep Sharma were married removed one of the most common ways workplace fraud is detected—through tips from observant staff. By hiding their relationship, the couple was able to keep the scheme running longer than it might otherwise have lasted.
How the Fraud Came to Light
Internal Audits Raise Red Flags
Eventually, things began to unravel. Auditors inside Oranga Tamariki noticed odd patterns in the paperwork surrounding maintenance jobs. They found that lots of work was being given to one small firm—Divine Connection Ltd—while competing businesses were not receiving nearly as many opportunities. This triggered internal red flags.
A turning point came when it was discovered that Divine Connection Ltd listed an address that matched Neha Sharma’s own. This detail, though simple, proved to be crucial. It linked the contractor directly back to a ministry staff member and sent the auditors looking for further evidence.
Moving Money Overseas and Sudden Departure
As soon as it became clear that they were under investigation, Neha Sharma and Amandeep Sharma started shifting money out of New Zealand. In total, they sent close to $800,000 overseas in an apparent attempt to keep it away from authorities who might try to recover the stolen cash.
Acting quickly, the couple fled New Zealand on a Singapore Airlines business class flight to Chennai, India 🇮🇳. Travelling at this level is not common for those under investigation for fraud, which shows the amount of money involved. Despite their efforts to escape, the pair was identified and returned to New Zealand 🇳🇿 to face legal consequences.
Legal and Social Consequences
Arrest, Guilty Pleas, and Sentencing
After their return, both Neha Sharma and Amandeep Sharma admitted guilt. Neha Sharma pleaded guilty to several serious charges. These included obtaining money by deception (which means lying to get money), moving illegal money (money laundering), and using fake papers (forged documents). The court sentenced her to three years in prison. She will serve this sentence in a special mothers’ and babies’ unit, as she has a young child.
Amandeep Sharma also admitted to his part in the fraud. His punishment will be decided in court on June 19th. The fact that both members of the couple have owned up to their actions could affect the judge’s decision on sentencing, but does not undo the damage done by the crime.
Official Response and System Changes
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of New Zealand 🇳🇿 took charge of the investigation. The SFO, along with help from Indian authorities who helped find the money sent overseas, pressed charges and led the prosecution. Karen Chang, SFO Director, made clear the importance of the case. “Offending of this kind erodes public confidence and harms the integrity of New Zealand’s public institutions,” she said, stressing how much harm these actions can cause far beyond just monetary loss.
Because of this fraud, Oranga Tamariki has made several important changes to stop similar events from happening in the future. The agency has put into place stricter rules regarding how suppliers are chosen and checked. There are now tighter steps for reporting any conflicts of interest, so that staff must clearly state if they or their families might benefit from work decisions. The agency is also doing more careful and regular checks of paperwork—a clear lesson taken from how Neha Sharma was able to use her authority unchecked for so long.
For more official information on the Ministry for Children and its updated procurement practices, you can visit the New Zealand Ministry for Children’s official page.
Recovery of Assets
The police have identified and frozen several properties and vehicles owned by the couple. These assets will remain under police control while courts decide if they should be given to the state to help repay the stolen money. This is one step often taken in large fraud cases involving public funds.
Wider Impact and Community Reaction
Public Trust and Confidence
One of the biggest sources of damage from this kind of fraud comes not just from the money stolen but in the loss of public trust. When government workers who are meant to be protecting children instead steal from those very projects, people lose faith in the fairness and honesty of the system.
Such crimes also make it harder for honest immigrants and workers in social service roles to be trusted, which can unfairly paint entire communities with suspicion. VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals how even a single case like that involving Neha Sharma can have lasting effects across government agencies, as well as among immigrants who work hard to build trust in their new country.
The Role of Internal Controls
This case has made it clear how important it is for government departments and private companies to have strong internal controls and frequent checks. Internal controls include things like confirming references, cross-checking addresses and names, enforcing disclosure of personal connections, and requiring regular audits.
Basic steps—such as verifying the true identity of all suppliers and creating clear ways for staff to report suspicious activity—can make it much harder for fraud to go undetected. Without these steps, people in trusted roles can misuse their power, as Neha Sharma did.
The Importance of Whistleblowing
In workplaces, having ways for staff to safely and anonymously report concerns (whistleblowing) is also important. In this instance, the scheme lasted over a year without being uncovered, likely because the key relationship between Neha Sharma and Amandeep Sharma was hidden from others in the office. Systems that encourage transparency and protect those who speak up can catch problems faster.
Attempts to Repeat the Pattern
Shortly after resigning from Oranga Tamariki, Neha Sharma tried to find a job at Waka Kotahi, New Zealand’s Transport Agency. Once again, she used a fake work history and forged references to get the position. However, this time checks came into play early, and no public money was lost during her short time there. Audit controls were tighter, and staff caught on to irregularities before any contracts could be misused. This incident shows the practical value of learning from mistakes and quickly improving screening procedures.
Lessons Learned and Next Steps
This case demonstrates several key points for not only New Zealand’s 🇳🇿 government agencies, but for public offices and businesses everywhere:
- Check Job References Carefully: It is not enough to collect references. Potential employers must investigate to make sure the references are real and trustworthy.
- Open Declaration of Relationships: Employers need clear rules requiring staff to share any personal or business relationships that could influence their work. Hiding such ties allows fraud to happen much more easily.
- Strong Internal Audits: Regular and detailed checks of contracts, payments, and supplier lists help spot red flags early.
- Whistleblower Channels: Encouraging staff to raise concerns safely can bring issues to light before they spiral out of control.
- Swift Action on Suspicious Activity: As seen here, prompt movement of money overseas was an attempt to block asset recovery. Being ready to act fast in these situations makes it harder for stolen money to disappear for good.
For countries that depend on reliable systems to protect the welfare of children or manage other vital social services, the lessons of the Neha Sharma case are clear. Open communication, frequent checks, and a culture of honesty are basic but essential defenses against theft and betrayal.
Final Thoughts
The $2 million fraud tied to Neha Sharma and the Ministry for Children is a cautionary tale. It reminds government agencies and the public everywhere that trust in institutions is not automatic—it’s something that must be repeatedly earned and protected. This story also underlines the need for everyone, from top officials to entry-level staff, to be alert for signs that things may not be as they seem.
As this case unfolds, public agencies will—hopefully—continue upgrading their protections and sending a strong signal that abuse of trust will be caught and punished. Community support for those working honestly in these fields remains as important as ever.
If you wish to learn more about government roles, fraud prevention, and how agencies like the Ministry for Children ensure safety and fairness, you can visit trusted government sites for official, up-to-date details.
Learn Today
Oranga Tamariki → New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, responsible for child welfare and protection of children’s rights.
Conflict of Interest → A situation where personal interests could improperly influence a person’s job-related decisions or actions.
Serious Fraud Office (SFO) → New Zealand government agency investigating and prosecuting serious financial crime and corruption.
Money Laundering → The illegal process of hiding sources of money obtained through crime, making it appear legitimate.
Whistleblowing → Reporting unethical, illegal, or suspicious activities within an organization, often to protect the public interest.
This Article in a Nutshell
Neha and Amandeep Sharma’s NZ$2 million fraud at New Zealand’s Ministry for Children exposed dangerous gaps in internal controls. Their actions, including falsifying documents and hiding conflicts of interest, led to stricter procurement processes and highlight the importance of transparency, audits, and whistleblower protections in public agencies that safeguard community trust.
— By VisaVerge.com
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