Waikato Police hope verdict will serve as warning to other fraudsters

Waikato Police hope the conviction of a man charged with dozens of fraud charges in relation to obtaining several thousand dollars by deception will serve as a warning to other potential offenders.

Detective Simon Everson of the Waihi CIB said the 68-year-old man was convicted following a five day trial in the Tauranga District Court.

"The charges related to the man travelling around the country making arrangements to purchase millions of dollars worth of property and vehicles which included a $1.6 million launch in Tauranga, a 161ha property in Martinborough in 2005 and a $3.5 million Waikato farm in 2007.

"His methodology centred around purporting to have millions of dollars invested overseas, and he also obtained $140,000 from two victims who he had told he needed cash to free up his investments."

Mr Everson said during the course of the Judge only trial held in the Tauranga District Court, the man claimed to be in correspondence with US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as Nigeria's president, who were all said to be assisting him to obtain his funds from various off-shore banks.

"In a written decision, Judge John MacDonald, found the man guilty of 37 counts related to his offending and he was remanded to reappear for sentencing on 16 August.

"It is hoped this verdict will deter any other potential fraudsters from seeking to victimise other vulnerable people and serve as a reminder to the public that at the end of the day, if something appears too good to be true, it probably is."

ENDS

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