SFO Investigation: Prominent Te Arawa Leader Appears in Court for Alleged $ 364K Fraud

A prominent business leader has been indicted by the Serious Fraud Office and charged with obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars by deception of an iwi trust.

Roger Haare Charles Pikia appeared today in Auckland District Court before Judge Pippa Sinclair.

It is alleged that between February 2014 and December 2015, he obtained property in the amount of $ 364,500 from the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust by providing timesheets that falsely represent his participation in the residual settlement negotiations.

The maximum penalty for the crime is seven years in prison.

The trust acts to represent three iwi found within the Upper Waikato River catchment area.

Another charge alleges that, in May 2016, he deliberately attempted to obstruct or defeat the course of justice by altering the minutes of a meeting of the board of Tarit Holdings Limited that took place on January 22, 2016.

Likewise, the maximum penalty for the crime is seven years in prison.

He faces three other charges.

Judge Pippa Sinclair ordered him to appear again in late February, when he is expected to present his statements in court.

Pikia said out of court that it was almost four years ago the day he first learned of the SFO investigation.

He said he was disappointed that charges were brought, but felt that he will finally have a chance to address the allegations.

“I strongly deny these allegations and I unequivocally state that we will vigorously defend the charges,” Pikia said.

“The restrictions imposed during the OFS investigation have made it impossible to speak openly and frankly about the allegations.

“This is not normal practice in an iwi environment, generally speaking, nothing is outside the bounds of discussion by iwi.

They had assembled “a highly trained legal team” that will “turn over every stone” to defend these charges to clear their name and, if necessary, go further “to do justice to the resolution of our treaty,” he said.

Pikia said it had been informed that no trial to determine these charges was likely until 2022.

“In the meantime, I will work with my attorneys to make sure they are vigorously defended.”

He wanted to thank his followers, including his family, friends and iwi, he said.