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The Serious Fraud Office has charged two people in the NZ First Foundation donations scandal, but Winston Peters says his party has been “exonerated.”
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying it had accused two people of “obtaining by deception” in the election financing case.
He did not name the defendants, but said neither were cabinet ministers, sitting deputies, candidates or staff members in the next election, or a current member of the NZ First party.
NZ First leader Winston Peters attacked the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in responding to the charges, saying that the SFO had “exonerated the NZ First party of any breach of electoral law.”
Robert Kitchin / Things
NZ First frontman Winston Peters.
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“It is a relief after months of this cloud hanging over the party that we have been completely cleared,” he said.
The foundation has been under investigation since February, after both Stuff Y RNZ published reports on the foundation’s activities. The foundation appeared to be accepting donations and paying expenses outside the Election Commission’s scrutiny, for the NZ First party.
The Electoral Commission, in February, referred the matter of the NZ First Foundation donations to the police after determining that “the donations were not properly transmitted to the Party and were not disclosed as required by the 1993 Election Law.”
Lawrence Smith / Stuff
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and attorney Brian Henry, Trustee of the NZ First Foundation.
The police then referred the matter to the OFS.
NZ First leader Winston Peters has said that the SFO would not find any wrongdoing, and NZ First was acting as other political parties do.
He routinely distanced himself from the foundation, saying he had made sure it was legal but was not involved beyond that.
Peters said he had asked the party to review donation practices in light of the Elections Commission’s findings.
Stuff NZ First Foundation trustees Brian Henry and Doug Woolerton were contacted early Tuesday, both declining to comment on the SFO investigation.
The 2020 elections will be held on October 17. Voting abroad begins Wednesday and early voting begins Saturday.
Sooner
