An Indian-origin engineer in New Zealand has been sentenced to over two years in prison after stealing nearly NZ$1.039 million (around Rs 5 crore) from his employer to fuel a severe poker gambling addiction. The case is being called one of the biggest public sector thefts in the country.
Shyamal Shah, 27, worked as a network engineer at Watercare, a water utility company under Auckland Council. Between July 19, 2023, and November 8, 2024, Shah created 40 fake transactions using false invoices under the names “Gardener Construction” and “Ben Gardener.” He directed the funds into his personal bank account, deceiving the company and causing heavy financial loss.
Engineer later admitted to obtaining money by deception and pleaded guilty in court. He has now been sentenced to two years and two months in prison. According to the police, his gambling addiction began at SkyCity Casino but worsened when he was introduced to private games by three men who offered him large credit lines.
Engineer’s defence lawyer explained that Shah was pressured into continuing to gamble under threats and coercion. “Once you’re in, it’s a very difficult place to get out of,” the lawyer said, highlighting how Engineer was shown pictures of another person who had been violently assaulted for not repaying debts.
Judge Davenport gave Shah a 55% sentence discount for his guilty plea, good behaviour record, efforts toward rehabilitation, expression of remorse, and willingness to repay the stolen amount. Despite the reduced sentence, the court stressed the seriousness of the crime and its impact on public trust.
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