SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

E-Gas managers jailed over fraud

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The former managers of retail gas supplier E-Gas have been imprisoned for three years, and 3-1/2 years respectively, for fraud of at least $9.75 million.

Sydney Lio John Hunt, 46, and Ronald Peter Rosenberg, 73, were last month found guilty on multimillion-dollar fraud charges for under-reporting the amount of gas supplied to customers.

Wellington District Court judge Bruce Davidson today sentenced Hunt to 3-1/2 years’ jail, and Rosenberg to three years.

Rosenberg was also ordered to pay $400,000 reparation within 28 days.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) alleged during the month-long trial that E-Gas under-reported consumption by about 950,000 gigajoules, worth about $8.7m, and penalties were avoided to the value of about $8.6m between May 2003 and October 2008.

To see full story published 30/05/14 go to:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10099038/Jail-terms-for-E-Gas-managers

Scandals tarnish NZ’s corrupt-free image

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Scandals in sport, politics and business beg the question: is New Zealand complacent about corruption? Nick Perry of the Associated Press reports.

If any country has a squeaky-clean image, it is New Zealand. It’s a place where police officers won’t even accept freebies from burger joints. It’s been ranked the world’s least corrupt nation for eight years straight by the watchdog group Transparency International.

Recent scandals in business, politics and sports, however, may put that reputation under threat. Some observers say the South Pacific nation’s sterling record for fairness may have made it complacent and less watchful for shady behaviour.

See full story by Nick Perry. Published 29 May 2014.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10096613/Scandals-tarnish-NZs-corrupt-free-image

Note:

The Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc. (“SPCS”) has been approved bronze level membership status in Transparency International (New Zealand) Inc. (TINZ) – the recognised New Zealand representative of Transparency International, the global civil society organisation against corruption. SPCS was approved “bronze level”, along with other new members (including the Earthquake Commission), at the TINZ Annual General Meeting held at Archives New Zealand on the 19th of November, 2013. Like SPCS, TINZ, is a registered charity (Charity No. CC2305) which was registered on 30 June 2008.

See:  https://www.spcs.org.nz/spcs-approved-as-member-of-transparency-international-new-zealand/

Also see SPCS Consitution (available www.charities.govt.nz  – Charity No. CC20268)

S. 2 (d) of Constitution states: “To focus attention on the harmful nature and consequences of sexual promiscuity, obscenity, pornography, violence, fraud, dishonesty in business, expoitation, abuse of alcohol and drugs, and other forms of moral corruption.”

Judge backs blogger’s fight against fraud – Auckland District Court decision King vs Taylor

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A fraudster’s victim who fought back has won a landmark battle to name and shame the man who scammed him and dozens of others. The Sunday Star Times (p. A5) in its report today describes the anti-fraud campaigner Steve Taylor as an “Online hero” (caption  below his colour photo).

Re: Auckland District Court decision by Judge DM Wilson QC dated 24 April 2014  – Grant Norman King (Applicant) vs Stephen Dylan Taylor (Respondent) CIV -2014-004-000122

Lawyer Madeleine Flannagan, who advised [Steve] Taylor and has been the victim of online harassment herself, said the judge’s decision showed free speech was alive and well.

She said the unique nature of the case, setting a new precedent in harassment laws, meant it was already being used by media law professors at Auckland University.

Taylor’s website [http://www.grantnormanking.com/] also resulted in King being punished. Since setting up the website, Taylor said more than 70 victims had come forward, across a 32-year span, claiming losses of more than $3 million.

As a result, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Ministry of Social Development began their own investigations, which ultimately led to eight convictions against King for fraud. According to Taylor’s timeline, the pattern of dishonesty started when King was convicted of receiving stolen vehicles in 1982.

See Full story by Rob Kid published 25/05/14

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10081333/Judge-backs-bloggers-fight-against-fraud
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Finance director property forfeited

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A High Court judge has ordered property connected to a failed finance company director is to be forfeited.

Police took unprecedented action last year to restrain assets they said were associated with two jailed Capital + Merchant Finance directors, Neal Nicholls and Wayne Douglas….

This followed a Serious Fraud Office trial where both men were found guilty of theft by a person in a special relationship for loans totalling almost $20 million. The men were also sentenced for misleading investors.

They loaned money for their own benefit in breach of Capital + Merchants trust deed. C+M collapsed in 2007 owing $167 million to investors.

See Full story by Hamish Fletcher published 23 May 2014:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11260648

Police bid to seize finance director property

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Police have made a formal bid in the High Court to seize property they allege is associated with a failed finance company director who is serving more than eight years in jail for fraud and misleading investors.

Police took unprecedented action last year to restrain assets they said were associated with two jailed Capital + Merchant Finance [founding directors], Neal Nicholls and Wayne Douglas….

Nicholls is serving eight years six months in jail and Douglas eight years two months. This followed a Serious Fraud Office trial where both men were found guilty of theft by a person in a special relationship for loans totalling almost $20 million. They loaned money for their own benefit in breach of Capital + Merchants trust deed. C+M collapsed in 2007 owing $167 million to investors.

See full story by Hamish Fletcher. Published 19 May 2014

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11257283