Amandeep Sharma, who collaborated with his wife Neha Sharma, a public servant, to fraudulently obtain more than $2 million from Oranga Tamariki, has been sentenced to home detention.
Neha Sharma pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in May. Amandeep Sharma, who also pleaded guilty, was sentenced today in the High Court at Christchurch to 12 months’ home detention.
Neha Sharma seemed like a trustworthy and diligent property manager at Oranga Tamariki. Their marriage remained unknown until after they defrauded the Government agency of over $2 million. National crime correspondent Sam Sherwood reported in May 2025.
About eight months after the Christchurch-based construction firm Divine Connection was added to Oranga Tamariki’s approved contractors list, concerns arose over the accuracy of its paperwork.
Invoices submitted and paid to the company were missing essential details.
This issue was brought to the attention of Neha Sharma, who managed property and facilities at Oranga Tamariki.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) Director Karen Chang said the pair “took advantage of her position of trust for their own financial gain.”
The SFO laid charges of obtaining by deception and money laundering against Neha Sharma and her husband Amandeep Sharma in June 2023. Neha also faced an additional charge of using a forged document.
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The charges related to approximately $2.1 million fraudulently obtained from Oranga Tamariki through Amandeep Sharma’s company, Divine Connection. The money was acquired without Oranga Tamariki’s knowledge. After the fraud was discovered, the couple transferred just under $800,000 overseas and left New Zealand, leading to money laundering charges.
Neha Sharma used forged references to gain employment at Oranga Tamariki, where she managed property-related responsibilities in the Canterbury region. During her tenure, she facilitated the appointment of Divine Connection as a contractor without declaring a conflict of interest. She ensured the company, owned by her husband, received assignments over other approved suppliers. In total, Oranga Tamariki paid Divine Connection more than $2 million.
After resigning from Oranga Tamariki, Neha Sharma used another forged reference to secure a role at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
The transferred funds—amounting to nearly $800,000—were traced to bank accounts in India. The Police Asset Recovery Unit, working with Indian authorities, located and restrained the funds, with proceedings underway to return the money to New Zealand.
The High Court also issued a restraining order over the couple’s properties in New Zealand following an application by the Commissioner of Police under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.
“Corrupt behaviour by public servants is a key focus for the SFO, and we are currently advancing initiatives that will strengthen the New Zealand public sector’s overall resilience to fraud and corruption,” SFO Chang said, 1News reported.
Chang also acknowledged the support of law enforcement: “We would like to acknowledge the police and Indian authorities for their swift action and assistance in securing the offender’s assets, as well as the co-operation of Oranga Tamariki and Waka Kotahi in the investigation.”
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