Former Govt Minister admits fraud

Former Government minister Roger McClay. Photo / Richard Robinson

Former Government Minister Roger McClay has admitted a $25,000 double-dipping rort of cash-strapped charities and taxpayer money.

The 65-year-old pleaded guilty to three representative fraud charges that he abused his ex-MP perk of taxpayer-subsidised flights, then falsely claimed travel costs from two charities he worked for.

Over nearly three years, the five-term National Party MP invoiced $11,800 from World Vision and Keep New Zealand Beautiful for travel costs when he had actually flown courtesy of the taxpayer. He then claimed $12,887.10 from Parliamentary Services with the 90 per cent travel discount he receives as an ex-MP.

Judge Jan Doogue described the $24,687.10 fraud as "significant" in the Auckland District Court yesterday where she indicated a sentence of community work if he pleaded guilty.

The charge of using a document to gain a pecuniary advantage has a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.

He will be sentenced next week.