prosecution | Case number: 221236

Neha Sharma and Amandeep Sharma

Former Oranga Tamariki employee Neha Sharma and her husband Amandeep Sharma have admitted to working together to fraudulently obtain $2 million from Oranga Tamariki.

Case Timeline

• Jun 2023

  Amandeep Sharma appears in Christchurch District Court facing charges of obtaining by deception and money laundering. Neha Sharma is in India and a warrant has been issued for her arrest, however it will lie in court until the defendants' next scheduled appearance on 26 July 2023.

• Sept 2023

  Neha and Amandeep Sharma appear in the Christchurch District Court and plead not guilty to all charges.

• Sept 2024

  Trial scheduled to commence 8 September 2025

• Mar 2025

  Neha Sharma pleads guilty to charges of obtaining by deception and using a forged document.

• May 2025

  Neha Sharma is sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

• May 2025

  Amandeep Sharma pleads guilty to charges of obtaining by deception.