Thompson charged
NZPA report:
Former Immigration Service boss Mary Anne Thompson appeared in court on Friday on fraud and dishonesty charges.
Ms Thompson faced two charges of using a document with intent to defraud and one charge of dishonestly attempting to use a document without claims of right. …
Ms Thompson is next scheduled to appear in Wellington District Court on December 12.
It will be interesting to see the exact details of the charges. I presume it relates to the claimed doctorate, that wasn’t.
As this is before the court, please restrict comments appropriately.
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Tags: Mary-Anne Thompson
November 24th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
The NZPA piece leaves one with the impression it is the matter of her unusual assistance to family members which is behind the charges but you could well be right, because it’s hard to figure out how that would be deemed fraudulent.
It will be an interesting case as I recall reading that she did not ever claim to have an MBA, just that she had enrolled. More interesting still the apparent fact that her superiors were notified of doubts about it but did not ask any questions. Everyone seems to have assumed she had an MBA but nobody bothered to check. It might be very difficult to prove fraud but not hard to show gross incompetence on the part of those who are paid very large salaries to check these things before people are employed.
There might be more than one or two heads chopped off and at a very convenient time.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I recall the canadian who ran maori tv for a while serving time for having a fraudulent cv. I would expect a custodial sentence if the charges are (similar and) proven.
Let’s hope that this is the first of many charges laid against the leaders and their lackeys from the previous regime.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Can a charge of accessory before/after the fact be laid againts those who employed her?
November 24th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Poster #1 – The issue was over Thompson claiming to have a PhD from the London School of Economics, not an MBA.
MBA’s are not proper degrees anyway. I love asking people who say they have an MBA, what their under-graduate degree was in, and they go strangely silent, because they don’t have one….
The National Programme’s “Evening Report” a few minutes ago said all three charges relate to her CV, not the assistance she gave her family to enter New Zealand.
I imagine John Tamahare will be in contact with her soon to offer her a job, working alongside Clint Rickards and Donna Awatere.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Interesting freethinker, surely the Ministry responsible is accountable to the taxpayer? Gummint wrong, but they always hand a scapegoat. Are Ministers of Crown above corruption in New Zealand. Yeah right !!
November 24th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
But but but… what has changed? I thought members of, and special friends of, the Labour party were immune from prosecution ?
November 24th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
that spell has been lifted Burt.
November 24th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
The first of many. Hopefully ending with Ms Clark herself behind bars.
November 24th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I suggest the punters check out the dates of the alleged offences, before they start their witch hunts.
eg
Stuff Article 15 May 2008
Ms Thompson, 53, was appointed chief economist at the Ministry for Maori Affairs in 1990, and joined the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, under Jenny Shipley, in 1998.
It has been widely reported Ms Thompson graduated with an MA in economic policy from Victoria University and a PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
November 24th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Seems a lot of top people are facing charges these days
It makes me think they were given a lot of promises for their security that didn’t pan out.
If karl Rove is not immune to prosecution, who is?
But considering credentials, I would presume they were sorted at interview level or acceptance of the appointment.
What’s the point of CV’s if these types are given jobs at these levels automatically.
Hugely hypocritical of employers.
November 24th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Chris2
MBA’s are not proper degrees anyway. I love asking people who say they have an MBA, what their under-graduate degree was in, and they go strangely silent, because they don’t have one….”
Can to explain why you think MBA’s are not proper degrees?
November 24th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
@sweetd-
Did you not read their comment? Based on their extensive research (read as asking some people about undergrad degrees) into what does and doesn’t qualify as a degree they were able to deduct that it is not in fact a proper degree.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
There is so much that will just ‘pop out’ now that the magic spell from that utterly evil witch has been broken!
It would be awesome to re-connect to Privy Council. Be interesting to see whether that is on the Agenda.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
In answer to your question sweetd, an MBA is not a proper degree because admission to a genuine master’s program is normally contingent upon holding a bachelor’s degree.
To acquire a real Master’s degree in New Zealand you usually need to put in 3 years fulltime study for the Bachelor’s degree followed by a further 1-2 years study for the Masters, not the one or two years of part time effort that an MBA requires. In terms of effort, an MBA is more in the category of a diploma.
Even Thompson realised an MBA was not a proper qualification, that’s why she claimed to have a PhD.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Ah, the thinning out of the public service has begun!
November 24th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
In almost all of the world, an MBA is a legitimate post-graduate degree. It could be that here it’s not – but globally speaking MBAs generally have completed undergraduate work before they enrol in a special course of study to get that advanced degree. And in much of the world, the undergraduate degree is a four year course of study – and the MBA is an additional two full time years unless it is non-technical (has no maths). Of course, some universities outside NZ allow students to work directly toward a masters degree, but even with that, we’re talking a minimum of five years for an MBA.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
An MBA has a value. To those that have taken the useful subjects on board, and turned their education into a business.
I have 10 ‘o’ levels, 5 ‘A’ Levels, and a Spirit Level.
I don’t use that either.
Did have 380 staff working for me, before I sold up last year.
Intellectual Munchkins. So what if you have a degree. What value have you actually added to the World Yet?
Or are you just waiting for a Sinecure? Or just thinking about it?
November 24th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
All this confusion about what constitutes a decent post graduate degree can be cleared up by our resident MA(Hons) holder Philu.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:22 am
A complaint was lodged with Police Commissioner Howard Broad that Mary Anne Thompson, in the Service of the Crown, allegedly endeavoured to advantage her own familt over other would be immigrants. As usual no action was taken. This is par for this corrupt Senior Police Department. MP’s are aware of the complaint.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:23 am
searching, ‘it has been widely reported’ does not equate with ract or fraud. It does equate with lazy journo’s who simply parrot what their colleagues said the day before so that a falsehood gains credence by becoming the ‘widely held perception.’ Just like global warmenising. I can only repeat that when this business was first aired I recollect that she did not actually claim to have a doctorate, only that she had enrolled in a doctoral course of study. Big difference between the two and I suspect this will be a pivotal matter in her defense. Also, I seem to recall the matter of the Phd did not arise until one of her more recent appointments was being considered but I could be wrong.
readdeath 26, before you come on all educated like, you might check out the difference between deduce and deduct.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Yeah but what has happened to the corrupt practices of her and the staff over advancing her family members applications?
where is the report?
where are the family?
are they being deported?
November 25th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Smoe new material I have helpfully plagiarised for Ms Thompson’s CV…
CV Quotes
These are taken from real CVs and cover letters and were printed in the July 21,1997 issue of Fortune Magazine
1. “I demand a salary commiserate with my extensive experience.”
2. “I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreasheet progroms.”
3. “Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year.”
4. “Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions.”
5. “Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave.”
6. “Failed bar exam with relatively high grades.”
7. “It’s best for employers that I not work with people.”
8. “Let’s meet , so you can ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over my experience.”
9. “You will want me to be Head Honcho in no time.”
10. “Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.”
11. “I was working for my mum until she decided to move.”
12. “Marital status: single. Unmarried. Unengaged. Uninvolved. No commitments.”
13. “I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.”
14. “I am loyal to my employer at all costs…Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail.”
15. “I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing.”
16. “My goal is to be a meterologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage.”
17. “I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant.”
18. “Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.”
19. “As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments.”
20. “Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.”
21. “Note: Please don’t misconstrue my 14 jobs as ‘job-hopping’. I have never quit a job.”
22. “Marital status: often. Children: various.”
23. “Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 am every morning. I couldn’t work under those conditions.”
24. “The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers.”
25. “Finished eighth in my class of ten.”
26. “References: none. I’ve left a path of destruction behind me.”
November 25th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Ms Thompson like some others in the civil service always left me with a uncomfortable feeling My test is always ‘would I employ that person in my organisation”
Most MPs fail the test as well.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Searching … M-A T was employed as the Chief Economist at the Ministry of Maori Affairs in 1990 (under a Labour Administration) …. your point?
November 25th, 2008 at 11:52 am
The Wellington recruitment agency “McLaren Associates” was the company retained in September 2002 to find a new General Manager for the Immigration Service. Thompson was the eventual appointee and McLaren would have been paid a handsome commission for her placement.
It will be recalled Wellington recruitment company “Millennium People” was the agency responsible for recommending John Davy for the Maori TV CEO appointment. His CV was later found to be false and he was imprisoned.
The question has to be asked, why are these employment agencies not checking the backgrounds of the people they put forward?
November 25th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
@Adolf Fiinkensein-
Firstly I find it slightly amusing that you perceived my comment as “com[ing] on all educated like”. My point was to question the grounds on which they were making their assumption. I still somewhat have issues with their reasoning. As I have always thought it was the content of the degree itself which should matter as opposed to the entry requirements. Although it is naturally quite possible that I am alone in these thoughts.
Although I do stress that my comment is not presenting an opinion of my own, one way or the other as to whether an MBA is or isn’t a qualification.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
DPF: what’s happened to the Mary-Anne Thompson CV fraud case?
She was remanded to reappear in Court on 12 December 2008, but there’s been no reporting of that appearance.