Police raid home of NAB chief Andrew Thorburn's former chief of staff
Fraud squad police have raided the home of NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn’s former chief of staff Rosemary Rogers as part of a bribery investigation sparked by the banking royal commission.
Victorian police assisted NSW detectives as they executed search warrants at Ms Rogers’ Williamstown home on Wednesday morning, seizing computers and documents.
NSW police uncovered information she organised a luxury Fiji holiday and a Thermomix kitchen appliance for Mr Thorburn using the firm.
It is understood Mr Thorburn is not under investigation.
Sources familiar with the case say the firm is suspected of issuing invoices to the NAB to make the bank cover the costs of Mr Thorburn's trip to a resort where the rooms cost between $6000 and $45,000 per night, and a Thermomix worth about $2000.
One line of inquiry being pursued by police in respect of Human Group’s conduct is whether it was using bank funds it was paid via inflated service contracts to fund benefits it gave to Ms Rogers. That same line of inquiry appears certain to also be applied to Mr Thorburn’s trip and the Thermomix.
No charges have been laid against Ms Rogers and there is no suggestion that she has done anything wrong.
She did not answer the phone when contacted by The Age at her Williamstown address.
In April, Mr Thornburn expressed anger and disappointment at the alleged corruption of Ms Rogers and the Human Group.
An NAB spokesman said the alleged fraud was reported by a whistleblower.
"NAB responded and acted immediately on Andrew Thorburn’s direction, investigated matters and reported them to police," he said.
“If the alleged fraud is proven, it represents a most serious breach of trust by a former employee.
“We continue to cooperate fully with police, who have asked us to provide no further comment on the alleged fraud and the investigation.”
NSW police media said the investigation was ongoing and declined to comment further.