Final sentences in joint agency operation

A major joint enforcement agency operation led by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has concluded today with the sentencing of Noelene Kay Banton and Johannes Hendrik Maria Middeldorp in the High Court at Wellington.

Ms Banton and Mr Middeldorp were found guilty of dishonestly reproducing documents with intent to deceive following a seven-week trial which ended in April.

Ms Banton received a sentence of 12 months on home detention and 200 hours of community work.

Mr Middeldorp was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Labelled Operation Edit, a multi-agency taskforce combining the SFO, the New Zealand Police, the Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ), the Commerce Commission, New Zealand Customs Service, and Inland Revenue was established in May 2012 to combat this long running invoicing scam.

The scam involved offenders copying pre-existing advertisements from genuine publications and promising prospective advertisers that similar advertisements would be printed and distributed in magazines to be produced by the defendants. The number of magazines to be circulated was grossly misrepresented. To encourage purchase, the magazines were titled in a way that suggested support of worthwhile causes such as road safety, parenting or family support. The scheme attempted to obtain more than $1 million.

Ms Banton and Mr Middeldorp are two of five defendants convicted in Operation Edit.

SFO Director, Julie Read said, “The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offending which was premeditated, repetitive and long running. This type of offending is also serious because of its capacity to diminish the confidence of those who rely upon New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest and do business.

“The SFO would like to thank its partner agencies for their assistance in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion.”

ENDS