For the first time since her involvement in a $2 million fraud scheme came to light, Neha Sharma has spoken openly about her motivations, admitting that a desire for early retirement and a luxurious lifestyle drove her actions.
Sharma, a highly educated professional with a PhD in chemical engineering, previously held a senior property management role within the Ministry of Education. She later used falsified references from that position to secure a high-paying job at Oranga Tamariki in February 2021. It was there that she, along with her husband Amandeep Sharma, exploited internal systems to steal $2 million, Stuff has reported.
Speaking from prison during a recent Parole Board hearing, Sharma reflected on her decisions despite having strong career prospects. “I think there was a lot of greed. Wanting to make more money for luxury living, wanting to be approved by society, fame, having the money that could buy certain things… All those underlying factors drove me to make such decisions,” according to a report by Stuff.
The remarks were made as she sought early release, which was ultimately denied. Since her conviction, Sharma has been housed in the mothers and babies unit at Christchurch Women’s Prison with her youngest daughter.
During the hearing, panel convenor Mary More highlighted the lengths Sharma and her husband went to in order to conceal their crimes. As authorities closed in, the couple transferred large sums of money into Indian bank accounts, though the funds were later recovered.
“Do you accept that you and your husband planned quite a mastermind of theft from the New Zealand Government?” More asked, Stuff has quoted.
“Yes, I do,” Sharma replied.
Sharma acknowledged a strong sense of entitlement that influenced her actions. “The entitlement in me was so strong,” as quoted by Stuff.
While in prison, she has enrolled in a business course, explaining her intentions to reform. “My intention is to learn the honest way of doing things,” she said. “Sticking to the right values and understanding it better,” as quoted by Stuff.
According to Stuff, when questioned about how she carried out the complex fraud, Sharma revealed she had researched systems online, including how the Companies Register operates, before identifying and exploiting a loophole within Oranga Tamariki’s internal processes.
According to a report by Stuff, the case continues to highlight how even highly qualified individuals can misuse their skills, with Sharma’s admissions shedding light on the motivations and methods behind one of the more sophisticated frauds against the New Zealand Government.