Bankrupt ex-director faces court over salons

Joseph Brooks. Photo / APN

A man who ran hair and beauty salons where a string of women suffered injuries has been charged with doing so as an undischarged bankrupt.

Joseph Brooks appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday morning on seven charges brought by the Ministry of Economic Development and was remanded without plea until May 2.

The ministry brought the charges after the Herald revealed in May last year that Brooks had been declared bankrupt on June 28, 2010.

Court documents allege that Brooks managed B52 Property Ltd and Hair Professionals Franchise Systems Ltd while bankrupt.

He also allegedly left the country four times without consent, and by phone falsely told the Official Assignee he was living in Australia.

B52NZ Management Group staffed the Hair Co and Beauty Co salons at LynnMall in New Lynn.

The Herald last year reported injuries to the salons' customers, including two women whose hair fell out after chemical straightening.

Another woman suffered burns to her eyeballs after an eyelash tint.

When interviewed by the Herald, Brooks repeatedly denied being Joseph Ronnie Brooks.

The insolvency register shows Brooks went by aliases including James Joseph Brooks, Jo Brooks and Aziz Chtouk.

The charge of managing a company without the consent of the Official Assignee or High Court carries a maximum two years' imprisonment.

The charges were welcomed yesterday by Kirstine Morris, who lost clumps of her hair after having it chemically straightened at Hair Co.

After the Herald reported her injuries, the Department of Labour inspected the salons but did not lay charges, despite Brooks admitting he emptied the shelves of product before their arrival.

"He was able to say that to their face," Ms Morris said. "He wasn't held accountable. [Salon staff] were completely ignorant. How can you be operating like that in New Zealand?"

Brooks and his business associates have sold at least 19 salons in New Zealand and Australia.

A couple who bought one of those salons told the Herald that they found it stocked with expired product and that staff were untrained.

Brooks' directorship of Hairco New Zealand ceased in April 2010 and his business associate, Ramona "Liz" Jungwirth, is now director.

The Companies Office register lists Ms Jungwirth as director of four other companies, but as Romana.

A manager at Hair Co LynnMall yesterday said the business had been sold and was under new management.

However, the Herald has been told that Brooks was seen collecting takings from the salon last week.

THE CHARGES
* Two charges of managing a company as an undischarged bankrupt without the consent of the Official Assignee.
* Four charges of leaving New Zealand without the consent of the Official Assignee.
* One charge of misleading the Official Assignee by falsely claiming to be living in Australia.