$1m fraud case on track for jury trial

Linnet Lewis

The amount allegedly stolen by Rotorua woman Linnet Lewis has now tipped over the $1 million mark, a court has heard.

Lewis, 54, has denied 26 Serious Fraud Office charges, including 16 counts of withdrawing money from investor accounts - that included local individuals, trusts and family trusts. She also faces five charges of dishonestly using cheques and five of making false invoices with the intent to use them to obtain property.

Lewis appeared briefly in the Rotorua District Court yesterday. Her lawyer, Andy Schulze, told Judge Phillip Cooper he was still "wading through" a vast amount of material.

Mr Schulze said he was waiting for a brief from a forensic accountant to "tie all the material together". He confirmed the case was on track for a jury trial.

Serious Fraud Office lawyer Fletcher Pilditch said the amount alleged to have been dishonestly obtained by Lewis had "tipped just over $1 million".

As a result, he was bound to raise the question of whether the case should now be moved to the High Court, he said.

Judge Cooper remanded Lewis on bail to reappear on June 11. He said the High Court would make a decision on whether her case remained in the District Court or was transferred to the High Court.