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The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced this week that it had laid charges against Martyn Tewsley Scott, a 51 year old from Meadowbank, Auckland.

The SFO alleges that Mr Scott fraudulently obtained in excess of $1.4M during the six year period employe

Serious Fraud Office lays charges in alleged $1.4M fraud

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced this week that it had laid charges against Martyn Tewsley Scott, a 51 year old from Meadowbank, Auckland.

The SFO alleges that Mr Scott fraudulently obtained in excess of $1.4M during the six year period employed as the general manager of a family run security equipment supply business.

The charges relate to the alleged manipulation of the company accounting system by Mr Scott, who redirected invoice payments due to suppliers to bank accounts under his control. He allegedly varied the method to divert payments due to genuine suppliers or would create false supplier invoices to substantiate payments covertly paid to his bank account.
 
Mr. Scott appeared in the Auckland District Court having been charged with seven representative counts of accessing a computer system for a dishonest purpose.

Mr Scott was remanded on bail, without plea, to reappear on 21st October 2010.

For further information

Nick Paterson
General Manager, Fraud & Corruption
Serious Fraud Office
Phone: 021 675 647

The role of the Serious Fraud Office

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was established in 1990 under the Serious Fraud Act in response to the collapse of financial markets in New Zealand at that time.

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…”

The SFO’s Statement of Intent 2010-2012 sets out the SFO’s three year strategy and goals for contributing towards the Government’s Justice and Economic Development goals. It is available online at http://www.sfo.govt.nz/f56,555/SFO_Statement_of_Intent_2010.pdf(external link)(external link)