The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it has filed criminal charges against four people over donations paid into a National Party electorate bank account.
In a statement the SFO didn't name the four, who are due to appear in the Auckland District Court on February 25.
The SFO investigation came after former National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross accused National leader Simon Bridges of asking him to collect a $100,000 donation from businessman, Yikun Zhang, and then split it up into smaller amounts to hide it. In a statement Bridges says neither he nor the National Party have been charged.
Below is a statement issued by the SFO on Wednesday afternoon.
SFO files charges in National Party donations case
The Serious Fraud Office filed criminal charges today against four people in relation to donations paid into a National Party electorate bank account.
The defendants are scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court on 25 February.
The SFO will not make any further comment until any name suppression issues have been dealt with.
ABOUT THE SFO
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was established in 1990 under the Serious Fraud Office Act.
The SFO is the lead law enforcement agency for investigating and prosecuting serious or complex financial crime, including bribery and corruption.
The presence of an agency dedicated to white collar crime is integral to New Zealand’s reputation for transparency, integrity, fair-mindedness and low levels of corruption.
This work contributes to a productive and prosperous New Zealand and the SFO’s collaborative efforts with international partners also reduce the serious harm that corrupt business practices do to the global economy.
The SFO has two operational teams: the Evaluation and Intelligence team and the Investigations team.
The SFO operates under two sets of investigative powers.
Part 1 of the SFO Act provides that it may act where the Director “has reason to suspect that an investigation into the affairs of any person may disclose serious or complex fraud.”
Part 2 of the SFO Act provides the SFO with more extensive powers where: “…the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that an offence involving serious or complex fraud may have been committed…”
In considering whether a matter involves serious or complex fraud, the Director may, among other things, have regard to:
- the suspected nature and consequences of the fraud and/or;
- the suspected scale of the fraud and/or;
- the legal, factual and evidential complexity of the matter and/or;
- any relevant public interest considerations.
And here's a statement from the National Party.
Statement from National Party and National Party Leader Simon Bridges
As expected neither National Party Leader Simon Bridges, nor the National Party have been charged following an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
“I have always maintained I had nothing to do with the donations. As I have always said the allegations against both myself and the Party were baseless and false,” National Party Leader Simon Bridges says.
“This was always just a vendetta by a disgruntled former MP.”
“I have always been confident in the way the Party receives and declares donations,” General Manager Greg Hamilton says.
“We are happy to put this matter behind us and will not be making any other comment.”
53 Comments
Lives 3 years as Healthcare professionals on JLR/blue import based voters area (Flat Bush), only to realised that all blue t/here has been bought by the mainland red/CCP (not our poor Lab).
SFO surely found, just a tip of the iceberg as what we've seen daily in that JLR/Botany electoral. Twice 'dumb us' being misled by Blue team, but now can proudly said this year too .. Never again.
“This was always just a vendetta by a disgruntled former MP.”
OK, so the SFO is acting on a "vendetta." If that is the case, the SFO is incompetent.
And it seems to tbe case, you're criminally liable for handing over donations, but not receiving them under instructions to make it appear that it's not a "present."
Luxton not even an MP. To enter parliament, become leader of the opposition then PM. All in eight months. That would be farcical. Was he that good at AirNZ and was AirNZ that good while he was. My personal experience is that AirNZ has continued to decline in terms of passenger service since the departure of Norris. But yes National are not looking exactly buoyant are they. Maybe old Bill should have got himself a shirt with an armour plated back and hung in there. The country may well have been partial to an experienced steady set of hands come election time.
Luxon is Air NZ's version of Theo Speirings, in stripping out all the costly staff...which reads experienced staff the Airline is swimming in steadily declining circles. So much so that it is advertising for pilots. The near monopoly state owned airline is advertising for pilots, unbelieveable and after reading the pay bands I can see why...no wonder they can't get any hands on the controls there isn't any money in it! Luxton would be worse than Bill English, don't let him anywhere near the leadership.
"As expected neither National Party Leader Simon Bridges, nor the National Party have been charged following an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office."
Bridges hasn't been charged. I feel like some people here are choosing to push their own barrows without giving this bit much thought.
Seems a solid bet given that he would most likely be crowing on twitter if he wasn't: https://twitter.com/jamileeross?lang=en
Bridges hasn't been charged yet. Proceedings are only at prima facie so who knows what could come up subsequently....given he is closely wedded to possibly the most corrupt town in the Country...Tauranga...I'm picking something white and boney is soon to tumble out of his hallway storage...and I'm not talking about Don Brash....or am I?
TCC are utterly corrupt and inept, I have had dealings with that entity and it really ought to be under administration permenantly. Theres just too many moneyed up chancers that have retired to the region over the years and they have infested local government for years....
And in local news
https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/119074030/police-to-progress-inqui…
Dalziel said she had acted on her husband's advice that none of the donors paid more than $1500 for the auctioned items, so could remain anonymous.
so the donors committed a fraudulent act allegedly
but the people receiving did nothing wrong.
if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck and looks like a duck---------- then its most likely a duck
hope it does go to court and the truth outs
the nats cosying up to the CCP is why i can never vote for them again, i want to vote for someone that does not take their orders from offshore
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