The case has sparked public outrage in New Zealand and raised serious questions about internal controls within government agencies tasked with child welfare.
An Indian-origin couple, Neha Sharma and Amandeep Sharma, has pleaded guilty to defrauding the New Zealand government of over NZD $2 million in a scheme that spanned two years and exploited a serious conflict of interest within a government agency.
Neha Sharma, a former manager at Oranga Tamariki—New Zealand’s Ministry for Children—secretly facilitated lucrative contracts for her husband’s company, Divine Connection. Her colleagues were unaware that Amandeep Sharma, the director of the company, was her husband. The business was quietly added to the ministry’s contractor list, allowing the couple to siphon public funds under the radar.
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Earlier this month, the High Court in Christchurch sentenced Neha Sharma to three years in prison
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During the proceedings, she claimed “baby brain” — a condition involving impaired memory associated with pregnancy — was to blame for her actions
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However, the court noted a lack of remorse or any offer of reparation from her side. Meanwhile, their older child had already been taken to India under the care of Amandeep’s sister
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Amandeep Sharma, who pleaded guilty last week, is scheduled to be sentenced in June
Court documents revealed that Neha abused her managerial position to channel work and payments to Divine Connection, despite repeated red flags. When internal concerns about the contractor surfaced, Neha attempted to downplay the issue. In a recovered message to Amandeep, she wrote: “We have a robust plan in place … and I will support you for becoming an entrepreneur. Celebrate retiring below 35! Not many get this opportunity.”
The fraud was finally uncovered in March 2023 after a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation led to a raid on the couple’s property. Authorities discovered the scale of their deception, including financial records showing the pair had transferred nearly NZD $800,000 to bank accounts in India. Shortly after the raid, both Neha and Amandeep resigned from their positions and fled the country. They booked one-way business class tickets to Chennai via Singapore Airlines and left with around 80 kilograms of luggage.
Before their departure, the couple attempted to liquidate assets including cars and property, in a clear move to evade legal repercussions. However, their plan was foiled when law enforcement acted on digital evidence including chat messages that documented how Neha manipulated processes from within the ministry.