Employer of executive who received commercial sex services from underage girl says it didn’t ask for suppression

A prominent businessman appeared in the Auckland District Court on Thursday on a sex charge. Photo / File

The employer of a business executive who admitted receiving commercial sex services from an underage girl says the company didn’t seek suppression and doesn’t plan to.

The man, who was arrested last week, pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court on Thursday to one charge of receiving commercial sex services from a person who was under 18. Court documents seen by the Herald say the offending occurred in September this year.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.

Judge Belinda Sellars on Thursday granted an application from the man’s defence lawyer to temporarily suppress the executive’s name and his employer, RNZ reported.

“His employer has just been advised about this,” the man’s lawyer said.

The employer wished to be heard about suppression, RNZ reported the defence lawyer saying.

However, a spokesperson for the man’s employer told the Herald that the company didn’t indicate it wished to be heard on suppression.

The company also had no plans to seek suppression, the spokesperson said.

The company earlier said it learnt of the court case on Thursday afternoon.

The man is no longer employed by the company and his defence lawyer could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

The executive was also facing charges for grooming for sexual conduct and indecent communication.

Those charges were withdrawn on Thursday.

Auckland District Court told the Herald he had been remanded on bail until his sentencing next year.

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