Bay man accused of $4.2m fraud

The charges have been laid after the SFO launched an investigation into Mark Lawrence Ivil's activities.

A Tauranga man is accused of fleecing more than $4.2 million from a number of people by running a property scam and other schemes over a 24-year period.

Mark Lawrence Ivil, 58, faced 39 charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office when he appeared in Tauranga Registrar's Court yesterday.

That is, 21 charges of obtaining by deception, 14 charges of obtaining by false pretence, plus two charges each of using a forged document and obstructing an investigation.

The charges have been laid after the SFO launched an investigation into Ivil's activities since the early 1990s following complaints in June last year. The SFO has alleged that Ivil survived financially on cash and direct credit payments obtained from a number of people by using scenarios about returns on a property development in Australia and other schemes.

Ivil is accused of obtaining about $4.28 million from complainants from 1990 to 2014.

During Ivil's brief court appearance yesterday, he had been expected to enter pleas to the charges, but was represented only by duty solicitor Rita Nabney, who sought an adjournment.

Ivil, who was further remanded on bail, was told to get further legal advice, as he must enter pleas in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday.