Former Covid-19 response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8m DHB funding during pandemic

Ryan Bridge: How was a former Covid response lead able to steal $1.8 million?

Ryan Bridge shares his thoughts on the revelation that former Covid response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8 million from DHBs.

Former Covid-19 response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8m DHB funding during pandemic

Alister Thorby spent the fraudulently obtained DHB funds on buying a house, vehicles, and overseas travel.

‘Calculated offending’: Man who stole $1.8m in MIQ funds jailed

Alister Thorby stole money destined to cover security costs at some of the country’s Covid quarantine facilities and instead spent it on holidays, cars and a home in Foxton.

Covid MIQ manager jailed for $1.8m DHB fraud

Former Covid MIQ service lead Alister Thorby has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after admitting he stole $1.8 million from the Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs during a five-month fraud spree in 2022. Thorby, then 25, created fake companies and issued 17 bogus invoices for security, cleaning, and logistical services that were never provided, exploiting the urgency and confusion of the pandemic response. He used the st…