KPMG director admits £500,000 fraud

A KPMG director fraudulently claimed more than half a million pounds in expenses to fund his wife's extravagant lifestyle, a court heard yesterday.

Andrew Wetherall, who admitted making the false expense claims at Southwark Crown Court, had previously told police he had stolen the money because 'he did not want her lifestyle to suffer', fearing she would divorce him.

Wetherall, 49 years old, pleaded guilty to false accounting and fraud and is expected to face a prison sentence, according to reports.

His fraudulent claims were kept below £5,000, which meant the claims did not require further authorisation.

KPMG said in a statement that it had changed its internal procedures to prevent such a fraud being committed again.

'Mr Wetherall’s frauds were detected via our own internal checks and he was dismissed in 2008. A thorough internal investigation was carried out and the case was then handed over to the police. Since this case, KPMG has made changes to its internal expenses procedures to prevent fraud of the type committed by Mr Wetherall being perpetrated today. No client funds were involved,' said the firm.

Wetherall's last role at the firm was as a coordinator between the member firms globally.

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