The ex-Ministry of Transport staffer, Joanne Harrison, who allegedly fled the country over misappropriated funds amounting to $726,000, appeared at the Manukau District Court yesterday.
In the absence of her lawyer, she was unable to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until August 26.
Harrison, also known as Joanne Sharp, was arrested and charged on her return to New Zealand at Auckland International Airport for three Crimes Act charges of dishonestly taking or using a document at the behest of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
The SFO alleges that the ministry paid approximately $726,000 to entities associated with Harrison during her tenure there from April 2011 until July 2016.
Following her departure, questions were raised by the ministry’s management team, resulting in an internal investigation that unearthed suspicious payments. Thereafter, the matter was referred to the SFO.
According to the SFO, Harrison’s role during her time with the ministry included responsibility for change, people and development; communication and external relations; administration and ministerial support; knowledge management and information and the shared services programme management.
She appeared in court via an audio visual link from Auckland Women’s Prison.
