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An iwi leader and adviser to the Maori king has appeared in court facing charges of fraud.
Roger Haare Charles Pikia, 58, appeared in Auckland District Court after a lengthy investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
Pikia, listed as a director of the company in the court documents, is charged with obtaining money by deception, perverting the course of justice and two counts of violating the Secret Commissions Act.
The investigation began almost four years ago after revelations that money belonging to Te Arawa River Iwi Trust (Tarit), which Pikia chaired, had been invested in Ka Ora Ltd, a health food company of which he was a director and previous shareholder.
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Court documents seen by Stuff, they allege that Pikia conspired to obtain money from Tarit Holdings by deception by agreeing to cut down trees in the US Forest Tonga.
David White / Stuff
Roger Pikia appeared in court where he was placed in preventive detention without a statement. (File photo)
Between February 2014 and December 2015, it is alleged that Pikia obtained $ 364,500 from Tarit by falsely representing its role in the deal negotiations.
The SFO also alleges that Pikia advised Tarit to enter into a contract with Ka Ora Ltd to buy shares for $ 400,000, without disclosing that it would receive shares as a reward for securing the contract.
The SFO further alleges that Pikia, while acting as Tarit’s agent, corruptly offered to accept, or requested, $ 150,000 as a reward for supporting, as a board member, the purchase of property in Rotorua.
Furthermore, he is accused of perverting the course of justice by allegedly altering the minutes of the Tarit board meeting in January 2016.
Judge Pippa Sinclair sent Pikia out on bail to appear in court in February.
On Wednesday outside of court, Pikia said that while he was disappointed that the OFS brought the charges against him, he was pleased that he could “finally have the opportunity” to address the allegations.
“I strongly deny these allegations and I unequivocally state that we will vigorously defend the charges.”
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
Roger Pikia appeared in Auckland District Court on Wednesday.
He said that the restrictions imposed by the OFS during the investigation prevented him from speaking openly.
“This is not normal practice within an iwi environment, generally speaking, nothing is outside the bounds of discussion by iwi.”
He said his legal team would “turn over every stone” to defend the charges and clear his name.
“… and if necessary, go further to do justice to the resolution of our treaty,” he said.
Tumu Whakarae (CEO) of Tarit, Eugene Berryman-Kamp, said that the SFO’s action against its former president had not affected its ongoing operations.
“The trust’s finances are healthy and our operations remain focused on achieving TARIT’s strategic objectives,” said Berryman-Kamp.
Pikia stepped down as president last month and is no longer a director of the trust’s commercial arm.
The trustees are letting the court process run its course, Berryman-Kamp said.
