Fraudster appeals $2.5 million forfeiture

Michael Swann's assets included the MV Townsend Cromwell. Photo / Supplied

One of New Zealand's most notorious fraudsters is appealing a decision which ordered the forfeiture of at least $2.5 million of seized goods belonging to family trusts.

Michael Swann, former chief information officer at the Otago District Health Board, was sentenced to nine and a half years prison for defrauding the board of $16.9 million between 2000 and 2006.

Swann is appealing a 2009 High Court decision which ruled that restrained property owned by trusts including the Devereux Family Trust was to be forfeited.

Court documents released to the Otago Daily Times showed Swann filed an appeal on the grounds there had been a "serious miscarriage of justice".

Swann argues the trustees were not given the opportunity to defend the civil case and the lawyer assigned to the trusts by the judge did not communicate with the trustees.

- NZPA