Kiwi conman expected to plead guilty after $16m fraud

A New Zealand conman accused of defrauding more than $16 million from his former employer, Queensland Health, is expected to plead guilty.

Joel Morehu-Barlow, also known as Hohepa Morehu-Barlow, passed himself off as a Tahitian prince to friends and colleagues while living the high life in Brisbane.

The 37-year-old was arrested last December and was alleged to have defrauded the government department while working there between 2007 and last year.

His charges included two counts of aggravated fraud, two of aggravated forgery, one of aggravated uttering, two of possessing dangerous drugs, one of possessing a relevant substance and one of possessing drug utensils.

In a brief review of the matter before the Brisbane District Court today, Judge Kerry O'Brien set a sentence date for Morehu-Barlow of March 20 next year, The Australian reported.

Morehu-Barlow has not yet formally entered a plea to the charges, but his lawyer's confirmation today that the matter would proceed straight to sentencing without a trial meant he would plead guilty.

David Shepherd, appearing for Morehu-Barlow, said prosecutors would present a new indictment, but it was possible some matters would be contested at sentencing.

Morehu-Barlow had worked for Queensland Health for five years when checks revealed millions of dollars appeared to have gone missing.

Authorities froze Morehu-Barlow's assets and seized millions of dollars worth of property, some from family and friends, in a bid to recover some of the funds he allegedly siphoned off.

Morehu-Barlow grew up in Thames, and lived the high life in Australia, convincing people he was a rich, Tahitian prince.

His life was filled with Louis Vuitton suits, Lamborghini cars and a rented multimillion-dollar apartment. He was handsome and popular, and his photos regularly made social pages in the local newspapers.

Morehu-Barlow was not in court today.