[ad_1]
Bevan Read / Stuff
North Shore District Court where one of the defendants appeared Thursday
Both men who allegedly fraudulently deposited more than $ 740,000 into an NZ First Foundation account have denied the charges and have chosen a jury trial.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) filed charges against the duo in September following an investigation launched by Stuff and RNZ reports on the foundation.
On Thursday, the second man appeared in North Shore District Court.
Attorney for the Serious Fraud Office, John Dixon QC, said prosecutors intended to release 3,500 documents to the couple, some of which contain the addresses of New Zealand First party members and MPs.
READ MORE:
* NZ First Foundations scandal: Court of Appeal rejects media permission to appeal decision
* The couple accused in the NZ First Foundation case continue to keep their identities secret
* Election 2020: New Zealand’s first leader Winston Peters relies on vote ‘surge’
* NZ First Foundation Giving Scandal: Appeal Filed Over Duo Name Suppression
STUFF
NZ First leader Winston Peters answers questions after his party criticized the Serious Fraud Office for its investigation into the New Zealand First Foundation. (Video first published on October 14, 2020)
Judge Alan Roberts told the media that the man could not be identified because he would risk revealing the identity of his co-defendants.
The man was held on bail at an Auckland address and is due to reappear with his co-defendant in November.
On Wednesday, the other defendant, who has provisional name deletion, appeared in North Shore District Court, seeking a postponement of the discussion on the deletion of his name.
The man told Judge Roberts that he had not had enough time to prepare his affidavits.
He said it had been the “target” of media advertising.
“The SFO published a press release and they let the media attack me.”
Dixon objected to a lengthy postponement and said that if that happened, the name suppression hearing would not continue until next year.
Attorney Robert Stewart represented the media, including Stuff, and argued that the name’s deletion should be heard on Thursday, as it was the man’s second appearance.
He said the man had already filed a folder full of affidavits and that if he needed to file more, he had until Thursday.
Judge Roberts said that would be “going tough” on the rights of man.
The judge said he would accept the man’s statement at the hearing, meaning the man would not need to appear Thursday.
The man has been placed in custody on bail and must reside at his North Shore address.
The charges
Collection documents obtained by Stuff allege that the couple, between September 30, 2015, and February 14, 2020, deposited a total of $ 746,881 into two separate accounts, including that of the First New Zealand Foundation.
The Serious Fraud Office alleges that the couple adopted a “fraudulent device, trick or ploy” and donations for the party were entered into bank accounts of a company and the foundation without declaring them to the party secretary and / or the Election Commission.
The undeclared funds were then used to pay for party expenses and develop a fundraising database, the documents allege.
None of the accused was a minister, sitting deputy or candidate prior to the 2020 elections. They were also not a current member of the NZ First Party or staff.
The couple faces a maximum of seven years in prison if convicted.
