Serious Fraud Office charges laid against former employee

Kāpiti Coast District Council has been advised by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) that a former council employee has been charged with obtaining by deception.

These charges have come about following an internal investigation that our Council referred to the SFO in 2023. The charges relate to the way the work was contracted and paid for rather than the work itself, which has been completed in full and to the expected standards.

Council is committed to a culture that is open, transparent, and accountable and we have policies, systems and processes in place for staff to raise concerns when they come across behaviours or practices that do not align with expectations of Council employees. 

We remain focused on ensuring our internal controls, governance, finance and accounting processes are operating effectively.  

As the charges are currently progressing through the courts and are subject to name suppression, we’re unable to provide any further details relating to the charges beyond what the SFO have shared.