Kaitaia police staffer faces sentencing after systematic $29,000 overtime fraud triggered by financial strain

Riki Toby faces sentencing for claiming 40+ fake shifts. Discover how a New Year's timesheet error exposed a major oversight failure in Northland Police.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 3:19 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from RNZ (Radio New Zealand) and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).

A Breakdown in Oversight Leading to Substantial Fraud

The discovery of Riki Toby’s illicit activities began with a simple administrative anomaly during the 2024-2025 New Year period. Toby, whose primary responsibilities as an Authorised Officer involved managing custody suites and processing detainees, submitted a timesheet that immediately raised red flags with the Workforce Management Team. The document detailed a shift that Toby was not rostered to work and, more significantly, indicated a breach of the "9-hour rule," a safety regulation requiring a minimum nine-hour break between active duties. This clerical error served as the catalyst for a deep-dive audit that eventually unmasked a systematic pattern of fraud spanning over a year.

Exploiting Digital Loopholes in the Payroll System

Internal court documents and police reports reveal that between August 3, 2024, and December 22, 2025, Toby utilized the "My Police" digital platform to manually enter 42 separate shifts that he never actually attended. By exploiting the system’s interface, he was able to bypass the initial layers of verification, leading to an unauthorized payout of approximately $29,000. Senior Professional Conduct Manager Inspector Anthony Tebbutt admitted that the initial review and approval process by supervisory staff was "substandard." While the custody Sergeant eventually became suspicious of the sheer volume of overtime being claimed, the fraud had already persisted long enough to cause significant financial damage to the department's budget.

Personal Financial Desperation as a Motivation for Crime

Upon being confronted by investigators, the 32-year-old provided a candid explanation for his descent into criminal behavior. Toby claimed that the offending was born out of intense "extra financial pressure" following a difficult domestic break-up. He initially tested the system by claiming a single false shift; when that went unnoticed and unpaid due to a separate error, he began a regular routine of falsifying hours to supplement his income. This admission highlights the vulnerability of internal police systems when employees face sudden personal crises, a factor that Northland District Commander Superintendent Matt Srhoj characterized as an explanation but not an excuse for behavior he deemed "totally unacceptable."