SFO lid stays on Far North council probe target

Former Far North mayor Wayne Brown

The Serious Fraud Office is keeping tight lipped on exactly what it is investigating in its inquiry into the past affairs of the Far North District Council.

The SFO confirms it is continuing the investigation it started last July into the past affairs of the council, but a spokeswoman said she could not say when the inquiry would end or what aspects of the FNDC's affairs the inquiry was looking at. The office was called in by Mayor John Carter following an internal investigation.

The spokeswoman confirmed the probe was ongoing but could not give an accurate prediction of when it might conclude because several factors involved in co-ordinating an investigation were involved.

When the investigation was announced, former Far North mayor Wayne Brown said he was confident it would not turn up any evidence of impropriety against him.

He said the secrecy surrounding the investigation cast aspersions on all council staff and contractors.

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He added he left the council in a sound financial position, with the lowest debt it had ever had at the end of his second term as mayor.

An internal investigation by the council after Mr Carter was elected in October 2013 found matters of concern, but neither the office nor the council is commenting further on which aspects of the council's operations - or who - is being investigated. Mr Carter said the council was supporting the investigation.

The SFO usually deals with cases involving more than $2million or matters of public interest.