Ex-employee of Waipareira Trust accused of sexual violation

File photo / NZ Herald

A former employee of the Waipareira Trust is accused of sexually violating and performing an indecent act on a teenage boy as well as lying about her qualifications to gain employment at the trust.

Alexia Joseph has appeared in the Manukau District Court facing four charges in total. She is yet to enter pleas and will reappear later this month.

Court documents show the 28-year-old, who now lives in Huntly, is accused of performing an indecent act on a teenage boy by "rubbing his stomach under his jacket". The alleged incident happened at an Auckland cinema in September last year.

On or about the same night, Joseph is accused of having an unlawful sexual connection with the underage boy at an Auckland motel.

It's understood investigations into these allegations gave rise to two further charges concerning the alleged falsifying of Joseph's academic history when getting a job at the trust.

She is accused of obtaining employment there between July and October last year by deception through making "representations of educational qualifications not held".

A further charge alleges Joseph made a false academic transcript with intent to gain employment.

Both this and the sexual connection charge carry maximum penalties of 10 years' jail, while the other two have seven-year maximum jail terms.

Waipareira Trust's chief executive John Tamihere said it would be inappropriate to talk about the allegations while the matter was before the courts, but said: "We've been fully compliant with the police investigation."

The trust was established in West Auckland in 1984 and provides access to health, education, justice and social services.