By LIAM DANN
The first charges may have been laid but don't expect a resolution to the Powdergate affair soon.
If and when the court decides there is a case to be heard, the Serious Fraud Office is not expecting a trial to begin before the middle of next year.
After an 18-month
investigation into the alleged illegal exporting of milk powder, the SFO has charged seven people with conspiracy to defraud.
Five of them appeared in the Auckland District Court last week and were granted interim name suppression.
The SFO alleges that 700 tonnes of dairy product was mislabelled as animal feed and exported without proper documentation and outside the statutory regime set down by the Dairy Board at the time.
It is understood that the SFO values that product at more than $75 million.
The case will return to the Auckland District Court on May 18 for a pre-depositions call over.
If at that time the prosecution is ready to present its evidence, a date will be set for a depositions hearing.
The defence will then be given the chance to review the evidence, cases will be prepared and witnesses found.
At the depositions hearing the court will hear from the defence and prosecution.
It will then decide if there is a case to be heard and only then would a trial date be set.
The alleged exporting offences date back to before the formation of Fonterra in 2001.
Herald Feature: Powdergate
