Former Citibank manager Graeme Rutherfurd, convicted of fraud after losing $7 million in a Nigerian investment scam, has been summonsed to give evidence in a forgery case being investigated by a European court.
The principality of Liechtenstein, between Austria and Switzerland, asked the Attorney-General to summons Rutherfurd under the mutual assistance agreement.
But the summons, issued in the High Court at Auckland yesterday more than a year after being first requested, may yet prove to be fruitless.
Rutherfurd's lawyer, Andrew Speed, said his client would "thumb his nose at the court" and refuse to give evidence on the grounds that doing so might incriminate him.
The forgery case relates to a letter from a corporation registered in Liechtenstein called Aiomi Establishment to the Carrus Group in New Zealand, and was produced in evidence during the crown case against Rutherfurd.
The letter talks about investments in Liechtenstein on behalf of the PH Adams Trust.
Rutherfurd is serving a 6 1/2-year jail term after a jury found him guilty of 24 charges of fraud, forgery, false pretences and theft.
Yesterday, Justice Rod Hansen said he would allow Rutherfurd to be summonsed for the Liechtenstein case, although "it may well be that the exercise will ultimately yield little for the Liechtenstein authorities."
Liechtenstein wants NZ fraudster as witness
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