Alleged fraudster was a success, jury told

Helen Mary Rosamond, 47, has pleaded not guilty to dozens of fraud and bribery charges alleging she masterminded a multi-million-dollar scam against the bank between 2013 and 2017.

The then chief executive of events and human resources company Human Group is accused of being involved in fraudulent invoices made out to look like NAB expenditures.

The money was allegedly spent on lavish holidays, extravagant presents and other items, as well as for kickbacks to a bank employee who was accused of being involved in the scam.

Mr Rosamond said he had a venue business when he met his wife through work in 2003.

They married in 2006 and she joined him in his various businesses, including Human Group.

In 2005, he had pitched a proposal to NAB in relation to an overseas conference.

"Helen said: "This is exactly up my alley, I will take the lead in it," he said.

On the day after their marriage, she was appointed company secretary to all the companies.

After they and another worker attended the NAB leadership summit in Hong Kong, Mr Rosamond said he was no longer personally involved with any of the bank's events.

His wife told him he was regarded as too "sales-y", but Human Group continued its business relationship with NAB.

"Helen had an incredible skill set," he said.

"She managed those projects all around the world, it was a success story."

He later complied with her "ultimatum" to close down one of the other companies.

"Effectively she was the main money earner, bringing all the money in from NAB."

At tax time, he did review the accounts, but he was not involved in the day to day decisions or invoices of Human Group which was his wife's responsibility.

He said at a 2012 meeting between the sales director, his wife and himself, he was told he had to leave as he was a "loose cannon" who should not be involved in customer-facing roles.

"That was it and I was exited."

His wife was later appointed CEO of the businesses and he was not allowed to be involved.

In 2015, the family including her parents took an overseas trip for her 40th birthday.

He had been seeking to raise capital for a business venture, but on the train in Toronto his wife told him she had shut one company and the staff had already been paid their redundancies.

"I resigned as director of all the companies and approved Helen as director."

He stayed in Toronto, without access to funds, while the rest of the family travelled onto other cities including New York and Washington DC.

Asked if he knew how the trip was funded, Mr Rosamond replied no but said he assumed it was from their own personal bank account.

He also said his wife had told him in 2014 she had paid for a second-hand car for his mother.

He will continue his evidence on Friday.