The Serious Fraud Office is investigating how the Auckland Rescue Helicopter and Child Flight trusts spent hundreds of thousands of dollars donated for specialist medical equipment.
The SFO, which raided the trusts' base and staff members' homes in February, is looking into allegations of double-dipping and misuse of grants in a
wide-ranging financial probe.
It has asked several charitable organisations, including Sky City Community Trust, Pub Charity and the Lion Foundation, to hand over all documents relating to donations to the helicopter operation and its offshoot, the Child Flight Trust.
Documents have also been taken from some of the trusts' suppliers. It is alleged the trusts would apply to charitable organisations for money to buy the same piece of equipment -- such as incubators and ventilators -- then keep any extra money.
Helicopter trust chairman Malcolm Beattie said he had no knowledge of either practice. He was confident the SFO investigation would clear the operation and all individuals.
An SFO spokeswoman said three people were working full-time on the investigation.
"We know there's a lot of public interest so we're not dragging our feet," she said.
In 2000, the Child Flight Trust received $95,000 from Sky City Trust to buy a portable incubator.
Mr Beattie insisted the incubator was bought with the Sky City grant.
A spokesman for the Sky trust confirmed original copies of documents relating to the transaction had been taken by the SFO.
- NZPA
