Wednesday 03 August 2016 11:11 AM
Auckland Transport manager admits taking bribes, gratuities for tenders, contracts
By Jonathan Underhill
Aug. 3 (BusinessDesk) - A former employee of Auckland Transport and Rodney District Council has pleaded guilty to two
representative charges of accepting undisclosed payments totalling $103,580 while he was in roles that involved letting
of contracts and tenders for local authority work.
Barrie George entered the guilty pleas in the High Court at Auckland today for his part in a case of alleged bribery and
corruption by former employees of Auckland Transport and Rodney District Council. The council was disestablished in 2010
and became part of Auckland Council.
George was charged along with Stephen Borlase and Murray Noone in April last year. He admitted that between December
2005 and June 2013 he received "undisclosed payments or gratuities while in various engineering and management roles,"
the Serious Fraud Office said in a statement. "The gratuities often came in the form of cash, travel, accommodation and
entertainment."
"In circumstances such as these, this conduct becomes part of the culture of an organisation, and can continue
unquestioned," said SFO director Julie Read. "This does not excuse the offending and it is important that employees who
are offered gifts, money or benefits by clients (or prospective clients) ask themselves whether their employer is aware
of the offer and whether it might be an offence to accept.”
Borlase and Noone are to stand trial later this year while George will reappear for sentencing on Sept. 1.
(BusinessDesk)
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