Man Sentenced for Nearly $59,000 Wage Subsidy Fraud

Janesh Latchman submitted 15 wage subsidy applications between April 2020 and April 2022, primarily under the name of his company L. Framing Limited, despite the business not operating or employing staff in any meaningful way.

Twelve of those applications were approved, resulting in total payments of $58,906.00.

Latchman’s applications listed a number of individuals as employees — including himself, family members, and co‑directors — despite there being no evidence the company was actively trading and no records of employees receiving wages or salary.

Some individuals named in the applications had previously been involved with the business, but had ceased involvement months earlier, while others were never employed at all.

Inland Revenue also confirmed it had no record the company was actively trading or registered as an employer.

The court heard that none of the wage subsidy funds were passed on to the individuals listed in the applications. Instead, the money was spent by Latchman on personal expenses, including food and drink, entertainment and Lotto purchases, as well as making cash withdrawals.

A further wage subsidy application was declined, which would have resulted in $25,658.80 in additional payments had it been successful.

Latchman continued submitting Wage Subsidy applications for the duration of the scheme. In each case, he declared that listed employees were legitimately employed and that funds would be used for wages — statements that were false.

Reparation of $50,000 was ordered as part of sentencing.

District Court Judge Pippa Sinclair noted home detention was appropriate to allow him to continue counselling and study during the sentence, and acknowledging his early acceptance of the offending.

Latchman has no previous court history and did not engage with investigators despite attempts to arrange an interview.

A total of 71 people have been sentenced in wage subsidy cases, and another 39 people are still before the courts as part of MSD’s programme of work on wage subsidy fraud and integrity. Since the scheme started, more than $836 million* in wage subsidies has been repaid.

For more information about the Wage Subsidy Integrity and Fraud Programme please see here.

*Figures at 31 March 2026