Auckland lawyer loses bid for name suppression

Auckland solicitor Robert John Warburton, charged in connection with the fraud case Operation Allsorts, has lost his bid to keep his name suppressed.

Warburton, 52, faces 12 charges in connection with the operation.

The Waikato police investigation centres on a number of alleged fraudulent transactions, which have left innocent property owners and financial institutions millions of dollars out of pocket. So far 21 people have been charged and police say more arrests are likely. The charges, which Warburton denies, include conspiracy, money laundering, obtaining by false pretences and fraudulent use of a document.

Warburton, who is the fourth lawyer to be charged in connection with the operation, appealed to the High Court after District Court Judge Denise Clark refused to grant him interim name suppression.

In dismissing the appeal, Justice Priestley said the evidence before him fell short of establishing that publishing Warburton's name would cause irreparable financial damage to his legal practice or leave him unable to pay a lawyer.

- NZPA