$1.8m airport fraud
A former Auckland International Airport accounts clerk has pleaded guilty to fraud involving about $1.8 million against the airport.
Teremoana Kimiangatau, 53, appeared in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday on charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office.
She pleaded guilty to all three charges of obtaining by deception.
The SFO alleged Kimiangatau transferred funds from Auckland Airport’s bank account into her own account by changing client bank account numbers to her own within the airport’s accounting system.
She was employed by Auckland Airport for 18 years and was dismissed in February.
SFO director Julie Read says checks and balances need to be in place to detect fraud.
Checks need to be taken seriously as opposed to being treated as box-ticking exercises, she says.
‘‘Kimiangatau’s responsibilities allowed her to pass invoices for authorisation many times and make changes to client information without being challenged,’’ Read says.
Auckland Airport referred the matter to the SFO in February 2016 after an internal review.
Kimiangatau will appear in the Auckland District Court on November 9 for sentencing.
Auckland Airport has now completed a thorough review of its internal processes.