SFO applauds pokie machine fraud convictions

Gilbert Myles in 2009. Photo / Daily Post

The Serious Fraud Office has applauded convictions today in a pokie machine fraud, in which former National and New Zealand First MP Gilbert Myles was convicted of obstructing justice, but not of fraud.

Myles had name suppression lifted in Auckland District Court today, after Judge Roderick Joyce found him guilty of attempting to obstruct the course of justice.

He was found not guilty of conspiracy to defraud when he and another accused, Robert Briggs, were acquitted of conspiracy to use documents dishonestly, with intent to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

SFO chief executive Adam Feeley said it was fundamental that questions were answered fully and honestly during SFO investigations.

"Any attempts to deliberately subvert the integrity of our investigations will not be tolerated," he said.

Briggs and another defendant were found guilty of being involved in a $1.8 million swindle of Auckland sports clubs, a children's charity, and various companies set up around gaming machines between 2003 and 2005.

Honesty and integrity were at the heart of any charity, Mr Feeley said.

"It is important that the public have confidence that the persons running such organisations demonstrate the highest ethical standards, and that law enforcement agencies hold any person to account if they fail to meet such standards."

A Christchurch businessman, who has name suppression, was found guilty of using documents with intent to defraud, and conspiracy to use documents dishonestly with intent to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

A businesswoman who also has name suppression, was found not guilty of using documents with intent to defraud, and conspiracy to use documents dishonestly with intent to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

Briggs pleaded guilty at the start of the trial to six charges of corruptly accepting money from various organisations, and two charges of using documents dishonestly with intent to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

He admitted to accepting commissions totalling approximately $153,000 from suppliers in connection with gaming machines ordered on actives' behalf.

Briggs, along with his associate, also operated a dishonest scheme in which $1.7 million of financial grants for equipment and coaching was provided to tennis clubs.

Companies owned by the associate then supplied that equipment to the tennis clubs at over-inflated prices, with the funding shared between Briggs and his associate.

Myles, Briggs and the businessman were remanded on bail until August 26 for sentencing.

- NZPA