A 54-year-old man has been extradited from Australia to face charges that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from investors. File photo / NZ Herald
A 54-year-old man has been extradited from Australia to face charges that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from investors. File photo / NZ Herald
A 54-year-old man has appeared in Manukau District Court today after being extradited from Australia to face charges that he stole nearly $500,000 from investors in his Wanganui-based finance company.
The man was the sole director of a small finance company set up to provide clients with time payment optionsfor insurance premiums.
At the outset of the business venture in 1997 a number of people invested in the company, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Forlong said.
In October 2007 a complaint was lodged with the police by an "interested party" concerned about the invested money, and a few days later the man left New Zealand to live in Australia, he said.
Police conducted a "lengthy and complex" investigation with the help of the Serious Fraud Office. A total of 19 victims from around the country were identified during the investigation and it was alleged the man stole a total of $496,000 from the investors for his personal use.
Following a full review of the information gleaned during the investigation it was established there were grounds to seek extradition. The man was found in Queensland, and on Wednesday he was flown back to New Zealand, Mr Forlong said. The Australian Federal Police helped with the extradition.
The man appeared today in Manukau District Court charged with 19 counts of theft. He was remanded on bail to reappear at the Wanganui District Court on Monday.
