Petricevic fraud trial witness named

Janita Wright. Photo / Supplied

Beauty-product distributor Janita Wright will appear as a witness in the Serious Fraud Office trial of Rod Petricevic, according to an employment court decision.

Wright is a director and shareholder of Combined Tanning Supplies, an Auckland-based business and website that distributes beauty and tanning products.

The company changed its named to CTS Cosmetologists in August.

In an employment dispute between Combined Tanning Supplies and Veronica Kloeten, Wright applied for a non-publication order on the grounds that attention could affect the Petricevic trial.

The order was declined by the ERA and its decision released this month mentioned that Wright would be a witness in the SFO case.

The SFO trial is due to start next year once Financial Markets Authority proceedings against Petricevic and two other Bridgecorp directors are completed. The FMA trial will resume on January 23.

Of the seven SFO charges laid, five are against Petricevic and fellow director Robert Roest. Two are solely against Petricevic. They have pleaded not guilty and stand trial in March.

The SFO alleges Petricevic used Bridgecorp money to pay $1.2 million to a "sham" business run by Wright.

It alleges Wright operated ABb Group, which invoiced Bridgecorp for marketing consultancy work, database management, operation of an after-hours call centre and other business expenses. But the work was allegedly either not done or the sums invoiced were out of proportion to the quality and quantity of the services provided and to Wright's qualifications, skills and experience.

Announcing the charges in May last year, the SFO said the business was "in essence a sham to enable Mr Petricevic to make alleged fraudulent payments from Bridgecorp".

Petricevic and Roest have been charged over the purchase of the luxury vessel Medici. It was allegedly bought and operating costs paid for with $1.8 million in Bridgecorp money but was owned by Poseidon, a firm Petricevic directed and owned.

The seven charges involve a total of $5.2 million.