A Rotorua woman facing 26 Serious Fraud Office charges is fighting to prevent her name being published.
The woman appeared in the Rotorua District Court today where her lawyer, Andy Schulze, applied for her interim name suppression to continue. The application was opposed by Crown solicitor Amanda Gordon.
Judge James Weir said there was no evidence publication of the woman's name would risk prejudicing her right to a fair trial. He ruled interim name suppression would end today, allowing her identity to be made public.
Mr Schulze immediately appealed that decision, which means suppression will continue until the appeal is heard. Mr Schulze has until Friday to lodge the appeal documents with the court.
In December the woman pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of withdrawing money from investor accounts held for her alleged victims - who included individuals, trusts and family trusts. The total allegedly stolen was $997,018, ranging from $7017 to $198,014.
She also faces five charges of dishonestly using cheques to obtain $75,000 and five of making false invoices with the intent to use them to obtain property.
Mr Schulze told the court he had recently received a large amount of material from the Serious Fraud Office, which he needed time to "get his head around" before the woman's next appearance.
Judge Weir remanded the woman on bail to reappear on April 16.