Pearson’s former royalties manager for its Australian operations, Paul Anthony Adlard, has been charged with allegedly stealing A$17.34 million through bogus transactions between June 2021 and June 2024. The suspected fraud was reportedly uncovered by staff at the company’s Melbourne office and referred to police.

The alleged amounts included A$8.89 million taken through transactions over three years, a single A$935,521 transaction in June 2021 and a final alleged A$4.33 million payment in June 2024; smaller sums are also cited. Adlard appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, where the prosecution and defence exchanged proposed plea arrangements without reaching agreement. His bail was extended, and he is due back in court.