Former roading boss accused of fraud named

AUCKLAND: A former roading contract manager facing fraud and corruption charges has been named after losing a bid for continued name suppression.

Jason Koroheke faces three charges of obtaining by deception and 12 charges of acceptance of gifts by agent.

He is being prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and has pleaded not guilty.

Koroheke worked for Broadspectrum and was responsible for awarding road maintenance work to subcontractors.

The SFO alleges he was the primary offender in a number of schemes where he allegedly accepted gifts in exchange for awarding work as well as submitting false invoices.

The subcontractors are alleged to have submitted invoices to Broadspectrum, both real and fake, which were authorised by Koroheke.

Once Broadspectrum paid the subcontractors, they are alleged to have used this money to provide gifts to Koroheke in the form of cash, goods or services.

In this way, Koroheke is alleged to have benefited by more than $1 million.

Four subcontractors who have also been charged in relation to the allegations are Frederick Pou and Jeanette Pou of Coastal Roading Contractors, Richard Motilal of Engineering and Aviation Supplies, and one other who has continuing name suppression. The four have all pleaded not guilty.

Aurelian Mihai Hossu (also known as Michael Hossu), a former maintenance manager of Broadspectrum who worked with Koroheke, pleaded guilty in April to four charges of acceptance of gifts by agent.

He was sentenced to 11 months’ home detention in June. — RNZ