India, May 19 -- A Christchurch-based Indian-origin couple has been convicted in a long-running fraud case involving New Zealand's Oranga Tamariki, with the woman exploiting her position as a property manager to divert government funds to her husband's company. The elaborate scheme resulted in losses of over NZ$2 million (approximately Rs.10.1 crore) to the child welfare agency, reported the New Zealand Herald.

Neha Sharma, 36, who served as the property and facilities manager at Oranga Tamariki, has been sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to multiple charges, including obtaining by deception, money laundering, and using forged documents. Her husband, Amandeep Sharma, the director of Divine Connection Ltd, has also pleade...