Rosemary Rogers allegedly received bribes from a contractor in the form of paid personal expenses

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The former chief of staff to ex-National Australia Bank boss Andrew Thorburn has been charged in relation to a $40m fraud against the bank.

Rosemary Rogers, 43, was arrested by Sydney detectives on Tuesday and charged with 56 counts of corruptly receiving a benefit and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

New South Wales police allege Rogers received the bribes in the form of paid personal expenses worth more than $5.4m from a contractor “to maintain the contract and approve overstated invoices”.

The Human Group director Helen Rosamond, 43, was charged last week with 56 bribery offences, one count of obtaining benefit by deception and one count of attempting fraud.

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Rosamond allegedly splashed the cash to ensure her training company kept the NAB contract between 2013 and 2017.

The police acting assistant commissioner Stuart Smith on Friday said the alleged “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, which occurred between 2013 and 2017, is some $40m,Smith said.

The relationship between Human Group and NAB dates back 12 years with contracts worth $118m.

An NAB spokesperson on Friday said the alleged fraud was first reported by a whistleblower.

“NAB responded immediately, investigated and reported it to police,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee.”

The bank stressed that “NAB is the victim in this matter”.

“Police have confirmed that no one at NAB is under investigation, including former CEO Andrew Thorburn, and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by anyone at NAB.”

Rogers was due to face Sydney’s Central local court on Tuesday afternoon.