Following advice from forensic investigation firm Beattie Varley Limited, Southern District Health Board has referred the expenditure at the centre of its long running dispute with South Link Health to the Serious Fraud Office.

The parties have been in dispute over the expenditure of savings since 2002. In late 2013 the Board became aware that the possibility of fraud in the transactions could not be excluded and accordingly referred the matter to Beattie Varley for investigation.

Southern DHB Chairperson and CEO have today met with South Link Health and informed them of the referral. The DHB is still hoping to negotiate a settlement with South Link Health as a separate issue to any potential fraud.

As the matter is now with the SFO for its consideration there will be no further comment at this stage from the DHB.

ends

© Scoop Media