A West Auckland business owner is accused of paying someone to burn down his factory for an insurance payout of more than $1 million.
Vijendra Kumar Naiker - former owner of Sargam Foods Ltd in Henderson - is on trial at Auckland District Court facing charges of arson and using a document for a pecuniary advantage.
The business, specialising in the wholesale production of samosas, roti rolls and other Indian snacks, was gutted by fire on November 15, 2008.
Three years later the 52-year-old was charged with deliberately causing the destruction of the premises along with Rashikendron Reddy and Oliovaigafa Neru.
Neru, who was sentenced to a term of home detention for his role in June 2012, gave evidence this morning.
He told the court how he was approached by Reddy, a family friend, who asked him if he wanted to do a job.
"All he said was he had a friend who was looking for someone to burn down his factory," Neru said.
The witness said he thought about the proposition for a couple of days before agreeing to a $500 cash fee.
According to Neru, he was then driven to the factory on Bruce McLaren Rd and introduced to Naiker, who pointed out a large pile of cardboard on the ground floor that he was instructed to set alight.
The pair then went upstairs to the offices where the man was told to smash up the computers and other electronics to "make it look like a robbery".
Before he left, Neru said he was told to help himself to items from the shop adjoining the factory, from which he took "heaps of food".
The witness told the court on the night of November 15 he dressed in black with socks on his hands, to avoid finger prints, and took a golf club to break into the building.
After stealing more food from the shop, he followed the plan as he said had been outlined.
Fire crews from the Henderson station, just down the road, were soon on the scene to douse the blaze.
"I feel horrible about it. It shouldn't have happened from the start. I'd take it all back if I could but it's too late," Neru told the jury.
It is alleged Naiker initiated an insurance claim 11 days after the fire.
Insurance company officials at court confirmed the claim was for more than $1 million.
The trial is expected to last all week.