Ex-chief of staff has $8m in assets frozen as NAB probe continues
Police have frozen nearly $8 million in assets owned by the former chief of staff to outgoing National Australia Bank boss Andrew Thorburn, including a $1m NAB bank cheque as part of an investigation into alleged fraud inside the bank.
The NSW and Victorian supreme courts slapped freezing orders over Rosemary Rogers’ $6.2m property portfolio, three of her bank accounts and the $1m cheque following a proceeds of crime application by the NSW Crime Commission last year.
The orders are part of an investigation by NSW police into allegations Rogers and a corporate event contractor were involved in running a massive fraud against the bank. Rogers has not been charged and the investigation is ongoing.
Rogers is suspected of rorting more than $500,000 from NAB to fund an extravagant overseas family holiday that included first class travel and a luxury resort.
Thorburn and NAB chairman Ken Henry resigned on Thursday after criticism from the banking royal commission of both men.
On Wednesday, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald revealed police were investigating whether shoddy oversight inside Thorburn’s office enabled and emboldened Rogers and the event contractor to pull off a suspected multimilliondollar fraud.
In November, both papers revealed how Thorburn took a luxury Fiji holiday which was arranged by Rogers and the Human Group.
While Thorburn paid several thousand dollars towards the trip, the full cost of it was ultimately passed on to NAB shareholders via inflated invoices issued by the Human Group.
There is no suggestion Thorburn is involved in the alleged criminal conduct.