New claims against fraud scientist recruiter

Disgraced former top Defence scientist Stephen Wilce outside his home in Devonport. Photo / Natalie Slade

The company that recruited Stephen Wilce - who is accused of embellishing his CV - also put forward an accountant who not only to lacked relevant qualifications, but also ripped off the Wellington organisation who hired her.

Mr Wilce, chief defence force scientist for the past five years, resigned last week following an investigation by the 60 Minutes programme, which revealed he made extravagant claims about his background, including that he had a distinguished combat career.

Several inquiries are being held.

Now NZPA sources have revealed the company behind Mr Wilce's recruitment - Momentum Consulting - also selected an unqualified woman to work as an accountant for a Wellington business group.

The applicant said she had an MBA and multiple degrees from various universities and Momentum was to do background checks.

Her poor on-the-job performance raised doubts about her qualifications, the source told NZPA.

"After about seven or eight months of really bad performance (we) went back to Momentum and said 'this doesn't make sense, this person doesn't even have the basics of an accounting knowledge'."

A few months later it confirmed she lacked legitimate qualifications and she resigned when her employer raised its concerns.

Days later it discovered invoices had been paid to her bank account, with as much as $60,000 involved. Police were called, and the woman has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

Momentum Consulting group managing director Bede Ashby said the woman - who he named - was initially hired as a contractor. He said qualification checks took a long time to complete.

"All verification checks, including reference, criminal, credit, aliases and qualifications, were undertaken. The first three were verified reasonably quickly, however, as the qualifications were from an overseas university, this final check took an exceedingly long time," Mr Ashby said.

"During this period the client raised questions about (the woman's) performance and we therefore completed the educational checks and discovered there were anomalies around one of her declared qualifications. Momentum advised the client immediately and action was taken by them.

"As full probity checks take some time to complete, particularly when dealing with some overseas educational institutions, (the woman) had already commenced in her permanent role. She had signed a Momentum application declaration which attests to all information provided by her being true and correct."

A senior representative of the organisation refused to discuss the case with NZPA.

Labour leader Phil Goff said the case was concerning.

"If they can't get an appointment like that right, what faith can we have in other appointments?"

He earlier said the first responsibility in the chain of checks in the Wilce case rested with the private recruitment agency and it appeared due diligence had not been done.

"That is frankly incompetent and they have got a lot to answer."

Prime Minister John Key declined to comment when asked if an inquiry was needed into all appointments by the agency.

Earlier today, Mr Ashby said a review had been carried out of the Wilce case.

He was satisfied the company had completed all tasks required under its arrangement with the Defence Force.

Momentum advertised the position, developed a short list of candidates and checked qualifications, credit history and the criminal record of the preferred candidate, he said.

- NZPA