- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 19 May 2025 10:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a shocking case of white-collar crime, an Indian-origin couple defrauded New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, of over USD 2 million before fleeing the country in a luxury business-class flight to India.
Neha Sharma, 36, formerly a trusted property and facilities manager at Oranga Tamariki, used her position to manipulate procurement processes. She directed government contracts toward her husband, Amandeep Sharma’s construction company, Divine Connection Ltd, bypassing competitive bidding rules and deceiving her colleagues about their relationship.
Concealed Ties And Forged References
To maintain the illusion of legitimacy, Neha instructed Amandeep to appear independent in dealings with the agency and told colleagues he was just another contractor. The pair even enlisted a friend at a call centre to help funnel work to Divine Connection. When scrutiny increased, company records were altered to remove Amandeep’s name, replacing him with an unwitting acquaintance.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) uncovered that the government paid Divine Connection more than USD 2 million in total. Nearly USD 800,000 was transferred to bank accounts in India, leading to money laundering charges. The couple owned three properties, three vehicles, and held large liquid assets, much of which they attempted to transfer overseas before fleeing.
The Great Escape
In March 2023, shortly after the SFO raided their home, Neha and Amandeep Sharma fled New Zealand on a one-way business-class flight to Chennai with 80 kilograms of luggage. They tried to liquidate assets and falsely claimed their company had been dissolved before departing.
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Government Job With Fake Credentials
Despite being under investigation, Neha briefly secured another role at the NZ Transport Agency by using the same fake references that helped her get hired at Oranga Tamariki. Amandeep again acted as a referee to assist in the deception.
Neha Sharma has since been arrested and extradited. She pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including obtaining by deception, using forged documents, and money laundering. She was sentenced to three years in prison. Amandeep Sharma has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing in June.
