Employee charged for deception in Middle East

Media Release

22 March 2017

Employee charged for deception in Middle East

A former employee of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (F&P Healthcare) has appeared in the Auckland District Court today on corruption related charges.

Simon William Hall (49) faces one Crimes Act charge of ‘Obtaining by deception’ and two charges under Section 8 of the Secret Commissions Act laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Mr Hall has pleaded guilty to all charges.

Mr Hall committed offences while in his role as an Area Manager based in Auckland and dealing with companies in the Middle Eastern market. The charges relate to payments received by Mr Hall for approving a Saudi Arabian company as a distributor of F&P Healthcare products and a single payment from a Jordanian company to also become a distributor. F&P Healthcare had no knowledge that Mr Hall received these payments. In addition to these offences, Mr Hall made false representations to F&P Healthcare regarding commission payments for installations of products that never took place.

It is understood that Mr Hall received approximately $213,000 in payments.

SFO Director, Julie Read said, “The acceptance of rewards outside of an employment contract which prohibits receipt of any commission or payment, is a fraudulent act and unacceptable in New Zealand business whether it is on our shores or being conducted overseas.”

Mr Hall will appear for sentencing in the Auckland District Court on 9 June 2017.

ENDS

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